NDMP Differential vs Incremental

[jp_2011]

I’m trying to configure NDMP backups to run a Full backup of a NetApp filer every Friday, and then differentials on Monday – Thursday.  However, despite having the full job configured at level 0, and the differential task configured at level 1, the backups appear to be incremental.  How can you configure NDMP to perform differential rather than incremental backups?

[teiva-boy]

Level 1's are incrementals.  As are all the other L1-L9.

1 is an incremental from 0.  2 is an incremental to 1, 3 is an incremental to 2.

http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=HOWTO23328

I do not believe there is such a thing that you want?

[pkh · Accepted solution]

The first incremental backup of the full backup is the same as a differential backup.  The definition of a differential backup is backup files changed since the last full backup.  The definition of an incremental backup is backup files changed since the last full or incremental backup.

Although you cannot do differential backups with NDMP, if you just keep doing level-1 backups, it is the same as doing differential backups because you would be backing up all the files changed since the level-0 (full) backup.

Also, see Colin Weaver's comment below

https://www-secure.symantec.com/connect/forums/be-2010-r3-ndmp#comment-5926861