8 Mar
2011
8 Mar
'11
5:53 p.m.
What you want, for goals #1 through #3, are simply disk and tape images, as commonly used
with all the major simulators/emulators and tools.
#4 and #5 are not part of the disk and tape images themselves, but you layer on top with
checksums (Aka md5sum's) and geographically diverse storage networks etc.
It's important not to confuse the image, with the media on which the image may
currently be residing. A well-thought out image container format will outlast many
generations of media. (And indeed have; RT-11 Logical Disk containers have existed since
the 70's, and DECUS TPC-style tape images for nearly that long). This is why #1-#3
have to be decoupled from #4 and #5.