Question How do you identify/organize SD cards?

[jhsachs]

I'm starting to use SD Cards, instead of flash drives, for backup. I'm accumulating a lot of them, and I'm finding that the strategy I used to identify flash drives doesn't work. I tied a paper tag to each flash drive and wrote notes on it; when I repurposed a drive I replaced the tag. On an SD Card there's no place to attach a tag. I tried keeping the cards in labeled pill bottles, but that didn't work either, because I have to take them out to use them. Whenever I have two out at the same time, I can never be sure which is which.

How do you deal with this problem?

My provisional solution is not ideal, and I'd welcome a better one. I got an acrylic paint pen that I can use to paint a waterproof white stripe on the back of each SD Card, and I write on it with a marking pen. I was supposed to be able to use a wet-erase marker and erase the writing with a damp cloth, but the damp cloth was ineffective. If I need to rewrite a label I remove paint and markings together with a cloth dampened in rubbing alcohol; then I apply a new strip of paint, and when it's dry, I write a new label.

For storage, I got a flat case that holds about three dozen cards. It comes with adhesive number labels and a log for writing descriptions, but I'm going to stick with my paint and marker instead.

 

[USAFRet]

I'm starting to use SD Cards, instead of flash drives, for backup.

Why?

There are not many worse options I can think of.

 

[jhsachs]

Why - because they're inexpensive, rugged, available in suitable capacities, and readable on many modern computers with no extra equipment (or on any computer with inexpensive extra equipment). I can't think of another medium except flash drives that meets those criteria, and SD cards are more compact.

I understand that data stored on SD cards or flash drives has a useful life of about five years before it has to be rewritten. That's utterly irrelevant -- I'm using them for backup, not archival storage. In five years everything I write to a card today will have been rewritten to a new or reused card approximately 60 times (assuming one full backup per month).

Now that I've justified my choice of media -- something I didn't expect to have to do when I came here -- can we please open the thread to comments on the question I asked?

 

[USAFRet]

Now that I've justified my choice of media -- something I didn't expect to have to do when I came here -- can we please open the thread to comments on the question I asked?

The thread was never "closed".

How to identify?
A lot of that depends on what you've backed up, and how.

But, I shall leave this to others to comment.

 

[USAFRet]

If you have a 3D printer, this:
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5644100

https://www.thingiverse.com/search?q=sd+cards&page=1

 

[Ralston18]

@jhsachs

My comment:

Keep it simple.

Put each SD card in the applicable/appropriate plastic case. Put the case in a sealable sandwich bag and use a permanent marker to label the sandwich bag per your requirements.

Store that sandwich bag somewhere as you likewise deem a means to meet your requirements.

However, ensure that you have mulitple backups in different places - just in case.

Bottom line answer being that you must have multiple backups (verified backups) in different locations.

Verified meaning recoverable and readable.

Both on site and elsewhere.