Retention

Retention

Retention refers to the amount of time (in days) that articles (posts) and files are stored on a Usenet provider’s servers and remain accessible to users. Retention is a critical factor when choosing a Usenet provider because it determines how far back in time you can access content within newsgroups.

How Retention Works

• Text Retention:
  Refers to how long text-based posts (discussions, messages) in newsgroups are stored. Most providers offer very long retention for text, often exceeding 10 years.
• Binary Retention:
  Refers to how long binary files (e.g., images, videos, software) are stored. Binary retention is usually shorter than text retention due to the large storage requirements, but top providers now offer several years of binary retention.
• Retention Limit:
  If a provider advertises a retention period of 5,000 days, this means that articles or files posted within the past 5,000 days (approximately 13.7 years) should be accessible. Older content will be deleted or unavailable.

Why Retention Matters

1. Access to Older Content:
   Higher retention allows users to find older discussions or download files that were posted years ago.
2. Provider Quality:
   Providers with longer retention often have larger, better-maintained storage infrastructures, which can be a sign of quality.
3. Use Case:

• Text Users: Users interested in discussions may not require extremely high retention because text posts are small and widely available.
• Binary Users: Users downloading media or files benefit from longer retention to access older binaries.

Factors Affecting Retention

1. Server Capacity:
   Providers with more storage can support longer retention periods.
2. Type of Content:
   Text requires less storage, so retention is generally much longer than for binary files.
3. Provider Policies:
   Some providers prioritize newer content and delete older content to manage storage and costs.

Current Retention Standards

• Text Retention: Typically exceeds 10 years (3,650+ days).
• Binary Retention: Often ranges between 3–15 years (1,095–5,475 days), depending on the provider.

Example

If a provider offers 5,000 days of binary retention:

• A file posted on Usenet 4,000 days ago will still be accessible.
• A file posted 5,500 days ago will likely no longer be available.

Retention is an essential feature for anyone using Usenet, as it directly impacts how much historical content you can access, particularly for binary files. Providers with long retention periods are often preferred, especially by users who rely on Usenet for file access and archiving.