>I see what you mean here , so you would recommend doing only differentials?
Well that would be for you to decide. But here is the difference: Differentials Example When doing differential backups, any file that was changed or added since the last full backup will be backed up. The changed or added files will continue to be backed up until another full backup occurs. For example: You are running full backups on Friday. The following files are backup: FileA, FileB, FileC, FileD On Monday FileA is updated, a new file called FileE is added. Monday Night, the Differential backup will only backup the following files: FileA, FileE. Tuesday FileC is modified and two new files are added FileF and FileG Tuesday Night the following files are backed up because this is a differential: FileA, FileE, FileC, FileF, FileG Wednesday only one new file is added: FileH Wednesday Night the backup occurs as follows: FileA, FileE, FileC, FileF, FileG, FileH The key thing to remember with a differential is when it comes time to restore, a full backup and the LAST differential are only required to fully recover the file server. Example of Incremental backup: You are running full backups on Friday. The following files are backup: FileA, FileB, FileC, FileD On Monday FileA is updated, a new file called FileE is added. Monday Night, the incremental backup will only backup the following files: FileA, FileE. Tuesday FileC is modified and two new files are added FileF and FileG Tuesday Night the following files are backed up because this is a Incremental: FileC, FileF, FileG Wednesday only one new file is added: FileH Wednesday Night the backup occurs as follows: FileH The key thing to remember with an incremental backup is when it comes time to restore the file server, a full backup and all the incremental backups up to the server crash are required. If the file server crashed on a Thursday, then the Full backup from Friday as well as the incremental backups from Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, would be required to restore the server. There are advantages and disadvantages to both. With a differential backup, it takes only one differential backup (the last one) to restore the file server. The disadvantage to this process is it takes more tape. The Monday backup is the shortest, with Thursday's differential backup the largest. With incremental, it takes less tape, but more processes to restore the file server to its original state. In some cases I have seen on the same server a differential backup take two tapes, one for the full and one for the differential backup. And only two steps to restore. Where as an incremental took only one tape, but 6 separate steps to restore the file server to its original state. It all depends on how much blank tape you have. Sincerely, Harold Robinson -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.375 / Virus Database: 268.2.1/279 - Release Date: 3/10/2006 ------------------------------------------------------- This SF.Net email is sponsored by xPML, a groundbreaking scripting language that extends applications into web and mobile media. Attend the live webcast and join the prime developer group breaking into this new coding territory! http://sel.as-us.falkag.net/sel?cmd=lnk&kid0944&bid$1720&dat1642 _______________________________________________ Bacula-users mailing list Bacula-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/bacula-users
