Is the file availability guaranteed?

[stephenctw]

Hi I am pretty new to this project. I am wondering if it's possible for the miner to keep proving to the blockchain that he has kept the file on storage, however refuse to transfer the file when someone else try to retrieve the file if there's greater interest to hide the file. I've read a few paper explaining the proof system filecoin is using, but I'm sure I found an explanation. Any pointers to useful documentation are very appreciated!

[dd45e640b42e6da7da96faee3996ef7c]

no

[dd45e640b42e6da7da96faee3996ef7c]

what i am saying is:

no, the file availability is not guaranteed. not for the one who stored the file, not for anybody else.

a storage provider decides whom to deliver data to. there is no part in the specs or in current "on chain" contracts that is related to retrieval. a storage provider can refuse to deliver data when ever he wants too.

[JDLH]

Thank you for the clarification. I had indeed misunderstood your answer.

no, the file availability is not guaranteed. not for the one who stored the file, not for anybody else.

Then I don't understand part of the Filecoin economics. Part of why I might want to pay someone to store my data is because I want access to it in the future. If I make a storage deal with a storage miner to store my data for 180 days, how can I be sure that I will also be able to retrieve the data at the end of that time? In other words, how can I pay for future availability of my data, not just for its storage?

[dd45e640b42e6da7da96faee3996ef7c]

you can't for now.

all you can do is choosing your storage providers carefully, store the data multiple times (the docs recommend 10 times) etc. in the end you will have to rely on legally binding agreements (aka paper contracts - or their digital equivalent) to get the service you desire.

[rjan90]

Until Filecoin gets smart contracts, and something similar to an SLA-agreement implemented with guarantees of retrievals, I would choose storage providers you trust, and know you can retrieve your files from 🙂

[dd45e640b42e6da7da96faee3996ef7c]

if that will ever happen, even with the fvm is questionable. we do a lot of hokuspokus to prove that a file is stored - we have little on proving that a file got transferred from miner to client