NTBackup is the default Windows 2000 backup
utility. You can start NTBackup by entering
ntbackup
in a command window. NTBackup supports five
different backup types, including:
NOTE Other
backup programs offer similar backup types.
Normal
backup
Also called a full
backup, a normal
backup, copies all selected files and
clears each file’s archive attribute after the
backup.
Advantages:
Easy to restore. Since the backup set is an
independent entity, you need to restore only
the latest set.
Disadvantages:
Takes the longest time and most storage resources
for each backup.
Example:
Perform a normal backup as the first backup
set, or if the set is small, or after a major
change in the system.
Copy
backup
A copy
backup copies all selected files without
modifying each file's archive attribute. This
helps if you want to leave the archive attribute
alone.
Advantages:
Same as a normal backup.
Disadvantages:
Same as a normal backup.
Example:
Use copy backup to make ad-hoc backups between
normal and incremental backups without disturbing
the regular backup process.
Incremental
backup
An incremental
backup backs up only the files created
or changed since the last normal or incremental
backup. It clears each file's archive attribute
after the backup.
Advantages:
Since the backup set only consists of files
created or modified since the last normal
or incremental backup, this backup type creates
the smallest backup set and requires the shortest
time to perform the backup.
Disadvantages:
You must make sure the sets used for the restore
procedure contain the latest normal backup
and all of the incremental backups.
Example:
Make a normal backup every Sunday; make an
incremental backup on all the other days.
Differential
backup
A differential
backup copies the files created or changed
since the last normal or incremental backup.
It does not modify each file’s archive attribute.
You can use incremental backups between a normal
backup and a differential backup. However, this
backup type can create complications during
the restore procedure.
Advantages:
Since the backup set only consists of new
and changed files since the last normal
or incremental backup, this creates a relatively
small backup set and requires a short time
to perform the backup.
Differential backups are easy to restore.
If you only do normal and differential backups,
you need to include the latest normal backup
plus the latest differential backup set when
you restore the backup sets.
Disadvantages:
Usually creates a larger backup set compared
to incremental backups.
Example:
Make a normal backup every Sunday; use differential
on all the other days.
Daily
backup
A daily
backup copies all selected files created
or modified the day you're performing the backup.
It does not modify any file's archive attributes.
Advantages:
Provides a way for you to quickly choose only
the files changed during the day you perform
the backup.
Disadvantages:
Not suitable for enterprise-wide backups.
If a user modifies a file after you perform
a daily backup, and you do not back up again
until the next day, the next backup will not
pick up the modified file.
Example:
Perform a daily backup to copy all the files
that have been changed during the day you
perform the backup.