Types of backup

As humanity’s use of all kinds of technology has grown, terms like backup are no longer
unfamiliar to the majority of people. Of course, the concept of a backup existed long
before it came to be named as such. Whenever any important document or information
was copied and stored in a place separate from the original for the purpose of ensuring
the information would not be lost, the process of backing up was taking place. This way,
if the original became damaged, it was possible to recover the information it contained
by referring to the copy, which was kept in a different, safe location. When this notion
was adopted by people and companies within a technological context, its original
characteristics did not change – simply, new resources became available to make the
backup process easier and faster.
Full backup

As the name suggests, this refers to the process of copying everything that
is considered important and that must not be lost. This type of backup is the first
copy and generally the most reliable copy, as it can normally be made without any
need for additional tools.

Incremental backup

This process requires much more care to be taken over the different phases
of the backup, as it involves making copies of the files by taking into account the
changes made in them since the previous backup. For example, imagine you have
done a full backup. Once you’ve finished, you decide that going forward you will
do incremental backups, and you then create two new files. The incremental
backup will detect that all the files in the full backup remain the same, and will
only make backup copies of the two newly created files. As such, the incremental
backup saves time and space, as there will always be fewer files to be backed up
than if you were to do a full backup. We recommend that you do not try to
employ this type of backup strategy using manual means.

Differential backup

A differential backup has the same basic structure as an incremental

backup—in other words, it involves making copies only of new files or of files that
underwent some kind of change. However, with this backup model, all the files
created since the original full backup will always be copied again. For the same
reasons as with incremental backups, we recommend that differential backups are
also not carried out manually.
 Common mistakes made while doing a backup

Now that we have looked at some of the issues around the importance of backups, let’s

continue with some recommendations as well as some common mistakes made during

the process.
• Not doing a backup

This is without a doubt the most common mistake. Very often a backup was not done
either due to not getting around to it or because of thinking the information wasn’t

important—until it was lost.

• Saving the backup copies on the same hardware as the original files
The idea of a backup is to make a copy for safekeeping. That copy must be stored in a

location different from where the original files are kept. If they are stored on the same

hardware and that hardware is damaged, the backup copies might be lost along with

the originals.
• Not testing the backup

Making a backup involves a series of processes. It isn’t enough to just create a copy –

you also need to check the files to verify that the data you saved is actually accessible in

case you need it. Indeed, testing your backups is just as important as backing up itself.

Depending on the form of the backup, which is often a compressed file, it could become
corrupted, in which case a new backup needs to be done.
• Not running the backup regularly and sufficiently frequently
It is important to make backup copies regularly, especially if the information is
frequently updated. Imagine, for example, that you are writing a book in a word

processing document and you only make a backup copy on the first of each month. If

the file is lost on the 15th of the month, you will only have a copy dating back to two

weeks ago and you will have lost all the work you did in the interim.
• Not labeling the backup files

After running your backups, keep a record of which archive is from which hardware. In
case you need to recover the data, it will be essential to do so on the right equipment.
 RAID (redundant array of independent disks)

RAID (redundant array of independent disks) is a way of storing the same data in
different places on multiple hard disks or solid-state drives to protect data in the case of
a drive failure. There are different RAID levels, however, and not all have the goal of
providing redundancy.

How RAID works

RAID works by placing data on multiple disks and allowing input/output (I/O) operations
to overlap in a balanced way, improving performance. Because the use of multiple disks
increases the mean time between failures (MTBF), storing data redundantly also
increases fault tolerance.
RAID arrays appear to the operating system (OS) as a single logical drive. RAID
employs the techniques of disk mirroring or disk striping. Mirroring will copy identical
data onto more than one drive. Striping partitions helps spread data over multiple disk
drives. Each drive's storage space is divided into units ranging from a sector (512 bytes)
up to several megabytes. The stripes of all the disks are interleaved and addressed in
order.

Benefits of RAID
Benefits of RAID include the following.

• An improvement in cost-effectiveness because lower-priced disks are used in large

numbers.
• The use of multiple hard drives enables RAID to improve on the performance of a
single hard drive.
• Increased computer speed and reliability after a crash -- depending on the
configuration.
• Reads and writes can be performed faster than with a single drive with RAID 0. This
is because a file system is split up and distributed across drives that work together
on the same file.
• There is increased availability and resiliency with RAID 5. With mirroring, RAID
arrays can have two drives containing the same data, ensuring one will continue to
work if the other fails.
Data Backup
Backup Methods

There are a number of possible methods of backing files up, each with their
own distinct advantages and disadvantages.
DOS or Windows file copy commands

Backups can be made either by copying files directly to the backup media
using DOS commands (COPY and XCOPY) or Windows Explorer.

DOS commands have the advantage that a backup can be automated

using batch files.
CD or DVD burning software
Burning software like Nero can be used to back data up directly to CDs or
DVDs. Such programs often include backup software (see below) in
addition to drag-and-drop file selection.
Dedicated backup software

Dedicated backup software offers a couple of advantages, including file

compression, support for backup sets, and backup catalogues.

• File compression increases the time backups take, but reduces the
amount of media required. Usually the degree of compression can be
adjusted to create a desired balance between backup speed and
space used.
• Backup sets allow users to save a predetermined specification for
which files are to be included in a particular backup.
• Backup catalogues are databases that make it easier to determine
the dates and types of existing backups should it become necessary
to restore files.

Backup Media
CDs and DVDs

For home use, CDs and DVDs are an inexpensive, reliable, and convenient backup
media. Their ability to access data randomly makes restoring files faster and more
convenient than either tape cartridges or diskettes and they are easily transported and
stored.
Magnetic tape cartridges
High capacity and ease of storage make magnetic tape cartridges the backup media of
choice for many small and medium-sized businesses. However, tape drives are
expensive and require considerable maintenance (cleaning) and their sequential data
access make the process of restoring backups time-consuming. Furthermore, the
cartridges are relatively expensive compared with, for example, CDs or DVDs, and they
wear out over time and must be replaced with new ones.
For more information, see Magnetic tape cartridges.

Hard disk drives

Over the years the capacity of hard disk drives has increased greatly while their cost
has steadily declined. As a result they are sometimes used as a fast, convenient, and
economical method to create redundant file copies. However, the fact that they are a
non-removable media means they are difficult to rotate or store off-site.

Floppy diskettes
Floppy diskettes are low in the order of backup media choices due to their increasing
obsolescence and their low reliability. They are also the least convenient method
because their low storage capacity makes it necessary to use so many of them for
backups of any significant size.
Floppy diskettes are suitable for ad hoc backups of small numbers of files, although it is
highly recommended to make at least two copies of important data.

Backup Sets
All the diskettes/tapes/CDs used for a complete backup cycle can be referred to as
a backup set.
At a minimum, three backup sets should be used in rotation. Having complete backups
from multiple recent backup cycles reduces vulnerability to media defects, malware, and
even hardware failure during a backup or restore.
In addition to rotating backup sets, there should be a policy of keeping some backups,
usually the most recent ones, off-site to prevent data loss due to theft, fire, etc.
Another good practice is to periodically "retire" the oldest data set to reduce chances of
media failure. The retired set is kept as an archive.

Types of backups
Dedicated backup programs offer several types of backups, with each type offering a
different balance of economy and convenience. A good backup strategy usually relies
on the use of a combination of backup types.
A brief description for each of the most common types of backups is given below. For
more details, see Characteristics of Different Backup Types.

Full Backups
Full backups can include all the files on a drive or a selection of files on a drive. Groups
of files are selected by either drag-and-drop or by specifying a pre-determined backup
set.
Full backups tend to use up a lot of time and storage media so they are often used in
conjunction with partial backups as part of a comprehensive backup strategy. The two
types of partial backups are incremental and differential.
Incremental Backups
Incremental backups are partial backups which only include those selected files which
have been edited or created since the most recent backup of any kind. The advantage
of incremental backups is that it they require less storage space and time than do full
backups.
Disadvantages include:

• A new tape is required for each one

• Restoring files is more complicated

Restoring incremental backups is more complicated because they must be restored in

the exact order in which they were created. If not, most recent versions of files get over-
written by older ones and updates are lost.

Differential Backups
The other most common type of partial backup is the differential. Differential backups
back up all selected files which have been modified or created since the most
recent full backup.
The disadvantage of this type of backup is that some files get backed up redundantly
and thus more backup media is required.
The advantage is that subsequent to restoring an initial full backup only the most recent
differential set must be restored in order to achieve a complete and accurate restore.

Daily Copy
Another partial backup type supported by many backup programs is the daily copy.
Daily copy backups include only the files modified or created during the current day.
Restoring this type of backup involves restoring a full backup and then restoring each
subsequent daily copy in the precise order they were created.

Copy Backups
Copy backups are usually used to transfer files from one computer to another. Unlike
other backups, a copy backup does not reset the archive file bit.

Backup Cycle
A good backup strategy follows a backup cycle. A backup cycle is a schedule of:

• When backups are performed

• Which type of backup is used
• Which set of media is used

A new backup cycle always begins with a full backup. Then, to save time, partial
backups, either incremental or differential, are performed for each of the next scheduled
backups in the cycle.
For example: once a week (usually Friday in a business setting) a full backup is
performed and then incremental backups are performed on each of the other days of
the week.
Some companies simply perform a full backup daily.
Child, Parent, Grandparent Backup Cycle
The Child, Parent, Grandparent method is considered the ultimate backup cycle. This
method involves making daily (child), weekly (parent), and monthly (grandparent)
backups. This method requires a lot of media (a minimum of 33 tapes for one year) and
is complicated to keep track of, but it offers a maximum degree of security.
For complete details, see Child, Parent, Grandparent Method.

Comparing Backups
All backup programs include a "Compare" option. A compare operation simply
compares all of the files on the source media with those copied to the backup media.
The user is advised of any discrepancy.
Ideally, each backup should include a compare. Although a compare doubles the time
required, it is the only way to have complete confidence in a backup.

Restoring Backups
Understand your backup program's restore instructions in advance of the need and
practice restoring files so you'll be ready when the need arises. For example, copy a few
non-critical files to floppy, delete them from the HDD, and then restore them from a
backup set.
Always consider the types of available backups before restoring files in order to achieve
an accurate restore.
 How to make a bootable DVD or CD

Making a rescue boot disk using Acronis Disk Director 12 a simple process.
1. In the main window, click Tools and open the Acronis Bootable Media Builder:

2. On the welcome screen, click Next:

3. Next, select Windows PE for the bootable media type, and Windows-like representation for the
drive:

4. To create WinPE boot media, your machine must have the Windows’ Automated Installation Kit
(AIK) installed. If it’s already installed, Acronis Disk Director 12 will detect it. If not, you will be
prompted to download and install it. (For instructions on Windows AIK, refer to this article.)

5. You’ll then be able to Create WinPE automatically, and the WinPE preparation will start.
6. If you have compatibility issues with the machine's hardware and the WinPE media, you’ll be
able to add any specific drivers you need:
7. Then simply select the type of media to create. Generally you’ll want to select an ISO image, but
if you are creating a custom WinPE image, you have the option to create a WIM image file.

8. Then you just choose where to save the image file and click Proceed.

9. Once the WinPE media image is created, simply burn it to a disk.