Linear Tape-Open
LTO tapes have an expected lifespan of about 30 years, which is longer than hard drives (5-10 years), but not as long as the best gold-plated optical discs (100-1000 years). LTO drives are only backward-compatible by two generations, whereas the latest Blu-ray drives can read the oldest CDs from the 1980s, making optical media a better solution for very long-term archival. LTO tapes should be stored at 15-25ºC and away from sources of magnetic fields, such as TVs and computer monitors, loudspeakers, or motors.