Sql "incremental" Backups

  • Does Sql Server even support such a concept or is it assumed that the trans log dumps will be used to fill that role?

    TIA,

    Barkingdog

  • There is no "incremental" database backup. It's called "differential" backup.

    Some folks refer the transaction log backup as an incremental log backup though....

    Rest of the answer: see your other post 😉



    Lutz
    A pessimist is an optimist with experience.

    How to get fast answers to your question[/url]
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  • LutzM (6/10/2011)


    Some folks refer the transaction log backup as an incremental log backup though....

    I can call a horse a car, doesn't make it one. Incremental backups != transaction log backups.

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
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  • If by incremental you mean all the changes since the last incremental and then all the changes since that one... nope, no such critter. You answer that question with Differentials and logs.

    "The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood"
    - Theodore Roosevelt

    Author of:
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  • GilaMonster (6/10/2011)


    LutzM (6/10/2011)


    Some folks refer the transaction log backup as an incremental log backup though....

    I can call a horse a car, doesn't make it one. Incremental backups != transaction log backups.

    I wish I would have had this answer a few weeks back when I had a discussion with one of our DBAs who insisted a transaction log is an incremental log. After a few "No it's not." -> "Yes it is!" we agreed to disagree... 😉



    Lutz
    A pessimist is an optimist with experience.

    How to get fast answers to your question[/url]
    How to post performance related questions[/url]
    Links for Tally Table [/url] , Cross Tabs [/url] and Dynamic Cross Tabs [/url], Delimited Split Function[/url]

  • LutzM (6/10/2011)


    GilaMonster (6/10/2011)


    LutzM (6/10/2011)


    Some folks refer the transaction log backup as an incremental log backup though....

    I can call a horse a car, doesn't make it one. Incremental backups != transaction log backups.

    I wish I would have had this answer a few weeks back when I had a discussion with one of our DBAs who insisted a transaction log is an incremental log. After a few "No it's not." -> "Yes it is!" we agreed to disagree... 😉

    Plus the sketch is supposed to go: No it isn't. Yes it is. No it isn't... etc.

    "The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood"
    - Theodore Roosevelt

    Author of:
    SQL Server Execution Plans
    SQL Server Query Performance Tuning

  • The only incremental backups are log backups, but they aren't since the full backup. They are incremental from the last log backup.

    Full backups have all data, and log records from changes during the full backup.

    Log backups have all log records since the previous log backup

    Differentials have all extents changed since the last full, non-copy only backup. Two subsequent differentials made since the full backup with both share all the extents changed since the last full backup, until the first diff is made. The second diff includes additional extents changed since the first diff.

  • When referring to Windows Incremental backups (or Outlook Email system backups), the backup type backs up data. Since the Transaction Log backs up the SQL Server log, not the data file, even the inference that Transaction Log backups = Incremental backups is mistaken and misleading.

    And yes, I used to make this mistake too, until Gail straightened me out.

    Brandie Tarvin, MCITP Database AdministratorLiveJournal Blog: http://brandietarvin.livejournal.com/[/url]On LinkedIn!, Google+, and Twitter.Freelance Writer: ShadowrunLatchkeys: Nevermore, Latchkeys: The Bootleg War, and Latchkeys: Roscoes in the Night are now available on Nook and Kindle.

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