Incremental Backup Handle Changes to Data Since the Last Backup
Incremental backup handles changes to data since the last backup by selectively capturing and copying only the data that has been added, modified, or deleted since the previous backup operation. Here's how the process works:
Change Detection: Incremental backup software scans the source data or file system to detect changes made since the last backup. It compares the current state of the data with the backup copy from the previous backup operation to identify files or blocks that have been modified, created, or deleted.
Capture of Changed Data: Once changes are detected, the incremental backup software captures the changed data by copying it from the source to the backup storage. This includes newly created files, modified files, and metadata changes associated with files and directories.
Inclusion in Backup Set: The captured changed data is included in the incremental backup set, which typically consists of the original full backup plus the changes captured in each incremental backup since then. Incremental backups create a chain of backup sets, with each subsequent backup set building upon the previous ones to reflect the cumulative changes made over time.
Storage Optimization: Incremental backup software may employ storage optimization techniques such as compression and deduplication to reduce the size of the backup data and optimize storage space utilization. Compression reduces the size of backup files by encoding them in a more efficient format, while deduplication identifies and eliminates redundant data segments across multiple backups, storing only unique data.
Backup Cataloging: Incremental backup software maintains a catalog or database of backup sets, recording metadata about each backup operation, such as the backup date, time, contents, and any associated changes. This cataloging functionality enables users to track backup history, review backup status, and quickly locate specific backup sets for recovery purposes.
Incremental Restore: When data restoration is required, incremental backup software facilitates the incremental restore process by selectively applying the changes captured in each incremental backup set to the original full backup. This allows users to restore data to a specific point in time by applying the incremental changes in chronological order, bringing the data back to its most recent state.
Overall, incremental backup provides an efficient and incremental approach to capturing and preserving data changes since the last backup, enabling organizations to maintain up-to-date backup copies while minimizing backup time and storage space requirements.
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