Both should be performed.
Initially you would do a full backup, then after that you can usually get away with incrementals. But even better would be to do a full backup on some schedule, maybe monthly, as it generally takes longer to restore from incrementals with lots of file versions.
Typically, a full backup takes the longest to complete compared to incremental or differential backups. This is because full backups copy all data while incremental and differential backups only copy changes since the last backup.
There are several types of backup, including full, incremental, differential, and synthetic backups. A full backup copies all data to a storage medium, while incremental backups only save changes made since the last backup, and differential backups save changes since the last full backup. Synthetic backups combine data from previous backups to create a new full backup without needing to copy all data again. Additionally, cloud backups store data offsite, providing added security and accessibility.
The three levels of backup used in database recovery management are full backups, differential backups, and incremental backups. A full backup captures the entire database at a specific point in time, while a differential backup saves only the data that has changed since the last full backup. Incremental backups, on the other hand, only back up data that has changed since the last backup of any type, whether full or incremental. Each level offers a balance between recovery time and storage efficiency, catering to different recovery needs.
An Incremental backup backs up only the selected files that have their archive bit set to ON, setting them back to OFF. This results in a backup of all files that are new or changed since the last backup, whether it was a full or an incremental. The advantage of an Incremental is that it takes the least amount of time and media of all the backup methods.A Differential backup backs up only the selected files that have their archive bit set to ON but does not set the archive bit back to OFF. A Differential backup will back up all selected files that are new and changed since the last full backup. The advantage of a Differential comes at restore time; you'll need only the last full backup and the last differential to get a complete restore. In the case of restoring with Incremental backups, all the Incremental backups since the last full backup plus the last full backup would be necessary.
Incremental backups are the quickest method as they only back up changes made since the last backup, saving time and storage space. By backing up only the data that has changed, incremental backups are more efficient than full backups.
An incremental and differential backup does that. An incremental backs up files that were changed since the last backup, whether it was full or another incremental. A differential backs up all files that have changed since the last full backup. Incremental backups backup faster. Differential backups restore faster.
Incremental backups and differential backups do not set the archive bit. Instead, they rely on the current state of the archive bit to determine which files have been changed since the last full backup. When an incremental backup is performed, it only backs up files that have changed since the last backup of any type, while a differential backup backs up all files that have changed since the last full backup, without altering the archive bit status of those files.
incremental, differential, full incremental: backs up what has changed since the last full backup at increments of your choosing differential: backs up everything that has changed since the last differential backup full: backs up everything on your hard drive (WARNING: takes a long time and uses a lot of disk space)
Backup in a Database Management System (DBMS) refers to the process of creating a copy of the database to prevent data loss in case of failures such as hardware malfunctions, software bugs, or accidental deletions. Backups can be classified into full, incremental, and differential types, with full backups capturing the entire database state, incremental backups saving only changes since the last backup, and differential backups storing changes since the last full backup. Regular backups are crucial for data integrity and recovery, enabling organizations to restore their databases to a specific point in time. Efficient backup strategies often involve scheduling, automation, and secure storage to ensure data is protected and can be quickly retrieved when needed.
Files should be archived as often as possible. Backup programs (of which there are many to choose from) are used to create archives. Backups can be made to a variety of storage mediums including removable drives and optical discs (CD, DVD or BluRay). Removable drives are the best option in terms of storage capacity and speed and they allow backups to be kept off-site which provides an additional measure of security in the event of fire or flood damage, for instance. Cloud-based backups are also an option for maintaining off-site backups. If you have a lot of data, a RAID system makes sense as they can be used to create automatic backups by duplicating files across two or more discs. If one disc fails, the other will keep you up and running until the faulty disc is replaced. However, if both should fail (which can happen), you'll be glad you made an off-site backup. Indeed, it's good practice to have several levels of redundancy, combining a RAID with an on-site backup in a fire-proof safe, an off-site backup in a dedicated data storage facility and a cloud-based backup for when all else fails. How often you backup is entirely dependant upon how much you are prepared to lose should disaster strike. We've all had those occasions when we've been working on a lengthy document and suddenly the power goes out, losing an hours worth of work. While there are measures we can take to minimise the loss, it is nonetheless frustrating. But when a disk fails, an hours worth of work is the least of your worries; you might lose days, weeks, even months of work, depending on when you last made a backup. So it's vital that you make regular backups. It's also important to make system backups as well as data backups. System backups only need to be done after making a change to the system, such as when updating software or adding new programs but restoring a system from backup is many times quicker than re-installing from scratch. System backups don't need to be done as often as data backups but you should always have at least one full backup of the system and another of the data. Thereafter you can make incremental backups (recording the changes since the last backup) however full backups should be made periodically. To create an archive, you first choose which files should be part of that archive. If all your documents are in your personal folder then it's simply a matter of selecting that one folder and creating a complete backup. Keeping system files separate from your data, preferably on completely separate drives, makes it easy to create separate system and data archives, however backup programs allow you to create multiple backup configurations (or tasks) that you can easily recall. Note that every file on your system has an ARCHIVE attribute associated with it. Every time you backup a file, the ARCHIVE attribute is cleared. Every time you modify or create a file, the ARCHIVE attribute is set. This simple mechanism makes it possible to determine which files have changed since they were last backed up, thus allowing you to create incremental backups. So having selected the files you wish to backup, you simply choose a full backup or an incremental backup. Incremental backups obviously take less time to complete. A normal backup cycle requires that you make a full backup at the end of each week or at the end of each month, depending on how changeable your data is. In between these backups you will make incremental backups. However, it is important that you never overwrite the most recent backup, so always keep several volumes in rotation. For instance, if you perform weekly incremental backups with a full backup every month, it would be prudent to keep at least 3 full backups in circulation (covering the previous three months) and as many as 15 incremental backups, covering up to 5 weeks in each of those 3 months. So long as one of the three full backups works, the worst case would be losing 3 months work. This is why it is important to verify your backups as soon as you make them. It's no use making a backup if it cannot be relied upon. Backup programs normally include an option to automatically verify a backup after it is made. Above all else, if your data is vital, backup your backups with an off-site backup.
In a large enterprise, you can perform full backups, incremental backups, differential backups, and mirror backups. However, one type of backup particularly suited for large enterprises is a snapshot backup, which captures the state of a system at a specific point in time. Snapshots allow for quick recovery and minimize downtime, making them ideal for environments with large volumes of data and complex systems. Additionally, they often integrate well with virtualized environments and large-scale storage solutions.
In Oracle 10g, backup and recovery methods primarily involve two approaches: physical and logical backups. Physical backups can be performed using RMAN (Recovery Manager) or through operating system commands, allowing for full or incremental backups of the database files. Logical backups, on the other hand, can be achieved using the Data Pump utility or the Export/Import utilities, which focus on backing up and restoring database objects. RMAN provides advanced features for automating backup processes, validating backups, and performing point-in-time recovery, making it a preferred choice for many database administrators.