Backups 101

[GaryJ]

Hi. I am about to use Titan Backup. But I am unclear about something and wondering if someone can clarify for me. I was under the impression that for Incremental backups to work correctly you need to first run a Full Backup, then subsequent Incrementals. Incrementals can't (or ought not) go on forever, so you need to break the Incrementals with another Full Backup and restart with the Incrementals. At least that is my understanding of how the Incrementals work. With Titan, nowhere could I find that that Full/Incr be implemented in concert. Am I correct in that you really ought to have a combination of Full and Incrementals, like say, Incrementals every day but a Full every seventh day. Can someone help me understand?

Thanks in advance,

G

[christoph]

full + incremental backup

mo : all files (full backup)
tue: the day's changed files (diff. backup)
wed: the day's changed files (")
thu: the day's changed files (")
fri: CRASH

restore-> mo+tue+wed+thu

advantage: fast backup
disadvantage: complicated restore


full + differential

mo : all files (full backup)
tue: all files changed since last full backup (mo)
wed: all files changed since last full backup (mo)
thu: all files changed since last full backup (mo)
fri: CRASH

restore-> mo+thu

advantage: easy restore
disadvantage: size of backup increases daily, since tue is included in wed, and tue+wed are included in thu.

If you need more, don't hesitate to ask

[GaryJ]

Great, as I thought. So for Titan to work properly (or any backup app for that matter) I will need to set up a regularly scheduled, eg, weekly, full bkup and daily differentials or incrementals to cover changes. Thanks. G