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ActlabsITGuys's avatar
ActlabsITGuys
Level 2
12 years ago

Backup Exec 12.5 First Incremental Job

Hi Guys, I've just setup a server for backup purposes only to backup our file server (over 6 TB of data).  We want to be able to keep two years worth of data to go back on if need be (auditing purp...
12.x and Earlier
Backing Up
Backup and Recovery
Backup Exec
Best Practice
  • pkh's avatar
    pkh
    12 years ago

    When you run an incrementa/differential backup using the archive bit method, it will backup only the files that happen to have the archive bit turned on.  Not all the files will have the archive bit turned on. For this reason, you need to run a full backup to establish a baseline BEFORE you run any incr/diff backups.  Running a diff/incr backup without a full backup will not backup all the files, i.e. the first incr/diff backup is NOT EQUAL to a full backup.  See my videos below for proof of this.

    https://www-secure.symantec.com/connect/videos/must-do-full-backup-after-modifying-selection-list-part-1

    https://www-secure.symantec.com/connect/videos/must-do-full-backup-after-modifying-selection-list-part-2

    https://www-secure.symantec.com/connect/videos/must-do-full-backup-after-modifying-selection-list-part-3

    This is why in BE 2012, you cannot do an incr/diff without doing a full backup.

    You should also note that your scheme to just use incr. backups will not work in the run.  When you need to do a restore, you would need to restore the last full backup + ALL the subsequent incr. backups.  Imagine restoring a full backup and 2 years worth of incremental backups.  You must always run full backups on a periodic basis to shorten your recovery.

    Normally, people keep a monthly backup for longer periods.  If you want to keep daily backups for 2 years, then you would need an enormous amount of storage

pkh's avatar
pkh
Moderator
12 years ago

When you run an incrementa/differential backup using the archive bit method, it will backup only the files that happen to have the archive bit turned on.  Not all the files will have the archive bit turned on. For this reason, you need to run a full backup to establish a baseline BEFORE you run any incr/diff backups.  Running a diff/incr backup without a full backup will not backup all the files, i.e. the first incr/diff backup is NOT EQUAL to a full backup.  See my videos below for proof of this.

https://www-secure.symantec.com/connect/videos/must-do-full-backup-after-modifying-selection-list-part-1

https://www-secure.symantec.com/connect/videos/must-do-full-backup-after-modifying-selection-list-part-2

https://www-secure.symantec.com/connect/videos/must-do-full-backup-after-modifying-selection-list-part-3

This is why in BE 2012, you cannot do an incr/diff without doing a full backup.

You should also note that your scheme to just use incr. backups will not work in the run.  When you need to do a restore, you would need to restore the last full backup + ALL the subsequent incr. backups.  Imagine restoring a full backup and 2 years worth of incremental backups.  You must always run full backups on a periodic basis to shorten your recovery.

Normally, people keep a monthly backup for longer periods.  If you want to keep daily backups for 2 years, then you would need an enormous amount of storage