I think this depends on a number of factors. Historically, I have always run differentials for the exactly the reasons you describe. The move to disk-based backup, however, requires a re-evaluation of your entire strategy. I have no compelling reason to run frequent fulls + differentials anymore since our target has changed to disk. (See earlier post about the acquisition of a Data Domain box.) In the deduplication scenario we have implemented it's a waste of time to do frequent fulls or differentials, particularly in an environment where there isn't a lot of change. Why move the data across the wire in a larger backup when it already resides on the target and won't actually be re-written anyway?
I would love to hear more opinions about this since I'm just making the move. RS -----Original Message----- From: Kurt Buff [mailto:kurt.b...@gmail.com] Sent: Thursday, September 10, 2009 4:06 PM To: NT System Admin Issues Subject: Re: Restores from Incremental backups Yes, there is a much easier way. Do your Full, then don't do Incrementals. Do Differentials instead. A full Restore from Full/Differentials only requires that you have the latest Full and latest Differential. A full Restore from Full/Incrementals requires that you have the latest Full, plus all of the Incrementals since then. Differentials are superior in almost every instance. The only exception is if you have an incredibly dynamic file set. Kurt On Thu, Sep 10, 2009 at 12:47, jesse-r...@wi.rr.com <jesse-r...@wi.rr.com> wrote: > Currently my backup plan consists of doing Incrementals Mon-Thu, and a Full > on Friday.���This has worked well. > > IF I switch to a Full once a month, and Incrementals each day for the > remainder of the month how difficult does this make my restores?���Lets say > on October 1st I do a Full backup�� I have Incrementals from October 2nd to > October 28th.���On the 29th, a user's home folder is completely wiped, for > example�� When I create the Restore Job, I am using "View by Resource" and > I find the (for example) \\server\share\path\path\username folder from the > Full backup on October 1st.���Now, I also have to find each instance of > \\server\share\path\path\username under "View by Resource" for EACH date, > October 2nd through October 28th, to make sure all files are restored since > the Full backup. > > That should successfully restore all the users data to the latest date, > October 28th.��� BUT..... Is there an EASIER way to do this? �� Having to > navigate through "View by Resource" for 29 different days and selecting > each day is, cumbersome...���Is there an EASIER way to way incremental > restores I'm not thinking of??(we're on version 12.5) > > (I was hoping there's some option for "restore the entire contents of this > particular folder going back to such and such date")??? > > > Thanks > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > mail2web LIV����� Free email based on Microso��® Exchange technology - > http://link.mail2web.com/LIVE > > > > ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ > ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ��~ > > ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~