Data Backup - Computer Backup - Safe Guard Important Data

Data Backup - The most effective way to prevent data loss is a solid data back-up procedure. Critical data should be backed-up at least once daily or possibly even more often for very active file systems. The frequency will depend upon the rate at which the protected data is modified or updated.

Data Backup falls into three basic categories:

Normal Backup. All files are stored and marked as having been backed up (in other words, the archive attribute is cleared). With this type you need only the most recent copy of the stored file or tape to restore all of the files. You usually perform one of these the first time you create a backup set.
Differential Backup. Here only files created or changed since the last normal or incremental backup are stored. It does not mark files as having been copied (in other words, the archive attribute is not cleared). If you are performing a combination of normal and differential backups, restoring files and folders requires that you have the last normal as well as the last differential backup.
Incremental Backup. An incremental backup backs up only those files created or changed since the last normal or incremental backup. It marks files as having been backed up (in other words, the archive attribute is cleared). If you use a combination of normal and incremental backups, you will need to have the last normal backup set as well as all incremental backup sets in order to restore your data.

Normal Backup- Anytime that a new procedure is initiated this type of backup must first be created before 'Incremental' or 'Differential' becomes possible. A 'Normal' backup copies all of the selected files and stores a complete copy of them in the destination set. Therefore, to perform a restore from a 'Normal' backup you need nothing more than the most recent 'Normal' set to restore every file that has been stored.

So you may ask, what is the point of the 'Differential' and 'Incremental' backup options. Well, it comes down to speed and storage space. A 'Normal' backup can take quite a long time to perform depending on the amount of data that is being backed up as well as use a very large amount of storage space.

Differential Backup- The 'Differential' backup looks at the data that is stored in the last 'Normal' backup and compares it to the state of the data in the current system and then stores only that data that has changed in the interim. In the typical computer environment, the ratio of the data that changes each day to the data that remains static is somewhere on the order of 1 to 2 percent. Therefore, the size of the 'Differential' backup is fractionally tiny in comparison to a 'Normal' backup and the time it takes to generate and store a 'Differential' backup is minimal compared to the time it would take to create another 'Normal' backup set. However, a 'Differential' backup set, in and of itself, is of no value. To perform a data restore from a 'Differential' backup, both the original 'Normal' backup set as well as the 'Differential' backup set are required.

Incremental Backup- The 'Incremental' backup looks at the data that is stored in the last 'Normal' backup set and also the changes that have been saved in the last 'Incremental' backup set and then compares that information to the current state of the system, storing only that data that has changed in the interim. This type of backup uses even less storage space and theoretically can be done even more frequently (even hourly). The biggest drawback to this type of backup is that to perform a data restore using this method you need the original 'Normal' backup set and all of the incremental backup sets as well.

A solid back-up procedure would normally be comprised of a combination of a periodic 'Normal' backup (maybe weekly or monthly) and either daily 'Incremental' or daily 'Differential' backups. The reason periodic 'Normal' backups need to be performed is because of the fact that over time the 'Differential' backup sets grow larger and larger and take longer and longer to create. In the case of the 'Incremental' backup, as time passes the number of backup sets continues to increase each time a backup is executed. Performing a fresh 'Normal' backup allows this process to start over.

Every system configuration should include some form of Data Backup:

We know that your data is important to you. A Data Backup plan is inexpensive and should be part of every basic system configuration.

I own a Computer Repair and Data Recovery business in San Antonio, TX. I spent 10 years in database development and the past seven mainly repairing and servicing hardware. However, I am now also offering Website Development, Internet Marketing, SEO, and Hosting.

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Bryan F. Keller

Important Distinctions Between Full System Backup, Continuous Backup, and Incremental Backup

There are many methods of data backup, stemming from many decades ago to the very recent past. Here we'll address a few different kinds of backup and some of the more technical aspects of their usefulness.

Unstructured Backup - This is when a user performs data backup of selected material manually, usually to Jazz or CD, with minimal regularity, continuity, or organization. It requires a low amount of investment and little effort, but yields a low level of recoverability.

Full System Backup - This is when a user executes a backup of the entire system disk, creating a duplicate image. Full system backup can be performed manually or on an automated schedule. It enables a high level of recoverability, but takes a long time to perform, so it is usually done biweekly or monthly. It often requires professional guidance during the restoration process as well.

Incremental Backup - This is the most common data backup method on a professional level. Upon initiation, a full system backup is performed to create a baseline. Thereafter, incremental backups are performed which only backup changed data. There are various methods of accomplishing this. Simple incremental backup just backs up whatever data has changed since the last time an incremental backup was performed. It they are scheduled to run daily, an incremental backup will record all changes made for the last 24 hours. This is considerably faster and less resource-intensive than a full system backup. The downside is that it further complicates the data restoration process, as it will be incomplete without each piece of incremental backup data (there can be hundreds or thousands).

Another form of incremental backup is differential backup. Like incremental backup, it begins with a full system backup, then tracks changes made. Unlike incremental backup, a differential backup system records the changes made relative to the initial full system backup. This means there is more data getting backed up, so the process takes longer than simple incremental backup. Yet it only requires two files to fully restore a system - the initial full system backup, and the most recent differential backup. This is often considered the best simple compromise between full system backup and simple incremental backup.

Yet a third and more sophisticated variety of incremental data protection is the multi-leveled or multi-tiered incremental backup solution. In this solution, backups are scheduled and designated levels or tiers. Level 0 is a full system backup. For each other level n, backup data is tracked relative to the most recent n-1 level backup. If you start with a level 0 backup, then schedule level 1 backups Mondays and Fridays, and level 2 backups Wednesdays, The Monday and Friday backups will record everything changed since the initial level 0 backup. The Wednesday backups, however, will only record changes made since Monday, because it is a level 2 backup (and Monday's was a level 1). Though more complex, this system allows for a much higher level of resource management. For large amounts of data (thinks terabytes of corporate data) this can be a significant boost in available processing power. By customizing your incremental levels, you can optimize your ratio of data security to processing power consumption.

The most recent advent to mainstream data security is continuous backup. It is essentially a modernized, upgraded version of disk mirroring. In a disk mirror scenario, a backup drive is setup to simply mimic a drive you select - every change continuously throughout the day. Continuous backup takes this concept one step further by tracking the changes made, enabling the user to roll them back and thus restore their system to virtually any point in time. This is the simplest and most reliable backup method for home users and small business - situations in which there is a limited amount of data changing at any given time. The only limitation is processing power - a newer system is important to manage to disk syncing without perceivable changes in performance. Continuous backup can also be successful for large-scale operations, provided it is implemented at a low (user-end) level (such that there are a manageable number of changes processed at any one given time). For home and small business users with older systems, differential backup can offer better performance, but provides a lesser degree of reliable system restoration and requires more user input and understanding of the implemented software. Ultimately continuous data protection is an excellent upgrade solution for home and small business users in the process of upgrading their older computer systems.

At Rebit, http://rebit.com, Dennis and two co-founders created something referred to as "ridiculously simple backup". Rebit products are ideal for small business, relieving the burden of backup for IT providers and PC users. The Rebit SaveMe product is the only backup and recovery solution that starts working the minute it is installed, keeping PCs continuously protected from crashes, viruses or accidental file deletions. All Rebit products are continuous, complete, and easy to use. There are no buttons, no schedules, and no configurations. In the event of a catastrophe, one can easily and quickly recover individual files, entire folders, or restore the complete system to a point in time. For more information: http://rebit.com/products/product-comparison/.