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Backup & Recovery

Incremental Backup

"A backup type that only copies data that has changed since the last backup, whether it was a full or incremental backup."

Incremental Backup

An Incremental Backup is a backup strategy that copies only the data that has changed since the last backup operation, whether that was a full backup or the most recent incremental backup. This approach significantly reduces backup time and storage requirements.

Key Characteristics

  • Change Tracking: Only backs up data that has been modified since the last backup
  • Dependency Chain: Requires the last full backup and all subsequent incremental backups for complete recovery
  • Fast Execution: Quickest backup operation due to minimal data transfer
  • Efficient Storage: Uses minimal storage space compared to full backups

Advantages

  • Time Efficiency: Shortest backup windows due to limited data transfer
  • Storage Efficiency: Requires minimal additional storage space
  • Bandwidth Optimization: Uses less network bandwidth during backup
  • Frequent Backups: Allows for more frequent backup schedules

Disadvantages

  • Complex Recovery: Requires multiple backup sets for complete restoration
  • Longer Restore Times: Restoration can take significantly longer
  • Vulnerability: If one incremental backup is corrupted, all subsequent backups in the chain are affected
  • Management Complexity: Requires careful tracking of backup chains

Best Practices

  • Combine with regular full backups to limit recovery chains
  • Verify incremental backups regularly to ensure chain integrity
  • Implement proper retention policies for backup chains
  • Monitor backup chain dependencies carefully

Use Cases

  • Daily backup operations in large environments
  • Environments with limited backup windows
  • Systems with limited storage capacity for backups
  • High-frequency backup requirements