Understanding Backup Scheduling
Backing up files requires time and resources. Before deciding on a backup plan, consider the following questions:
ÂÂ How much data will be backed up?
ÂÂ How much time will the backup take?
ÂÂ When does the backup need to happen?
ÂÂ What else is the computer doing during that time? ÂÂ What sort of resource allocation will be necessary?
For example, how much network bandwidth is necessary to accommodate the load? How much space on backup drives, or how many backup tapes are required? What sort of drain on computing resources will occur during backup? What personnel are necessary for the backup?
You will find that different kinds of backup require different answers to these questions. For example, an incremental file copy might take less time and copy less data than a full file copy (because only a fraction of any given data set will have changed since the last backup).
Therefore an incremental backup might be scheduled during a normal use period because the impact to users and systems may be very low. However, a full image backup might have a very strong impact for users and systems, if done during the normal use period.
Choosing a Backup Rotation Scheme
A backup rotation scheme determines the most efficient way to back up data over a specific period of time. An example of a rotation scheme is the
In the
Understanding Restores
No backup policy or solution is complete without having accompanying plans for data restoration. Depending on what is being restored, you may have different practices and procedures. For example, your organization may have specific tolerances for how long critical systems can be out of use while the data is restored.
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