In Exchange environments, the only thing typically changing daily are the Exchange related databases. I've found (at least in my archaic E2000, BE 9 world) that a differential doesn't usually take much more time or space than an incremental. So there's little downside to a differential and (as others have pointed out) the huge plus of easier restores.
Steve -----Original Message----- From: Roger Wright [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, January 11, 2008 6:18 AM To: MS-Exchange Admin Issues Subject: RE: Back Up Best Practices Differentials take progressively longer to backup but way less effort to restore. Roger Wright Network Administrator Evatone, Inc. 727.572.7076 x388 ____ "We all get heavier as we get older because there's a lot more information in our heads." - Vlade Divac (basketball player) -----Original Message----- From: Tom Strader [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, January 11, 2008 8:56 AM To: MS-Exchange Admin Issues Subject: RE: Back Up Best Practices John, Why Differentials over Incrementals. Your opinion? Thanks Tom -----Original Message----- From: Matteson, John H Jr USA Mr USA 25th SigBN (ITT) [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, January 11, 2008 12:05 AM To: MS-Exchange Admin Issues Subject: RE: Back Up Best Practices The more tapes you have to use to get your server back into operation, the greater the risk for something to be FUBAR and your restore being useless. Luke had the best answer, a full then differentials until the next full backup. That way you only need two tapes to ensure that you have a complete backup set. John H. Matteson, Jr. Systems Administrator/ITT Systems FOB Orgun-E Afghanistan DSN - 318 431 8000 VoSIP - (308) 431 - 0000 Iridium - 717.633.3823 "A man who thinks of himself as belonging to a particular national group in America has not yet become an American. And the man who goes among you to trade upon your nationality is no worthy son to live under the Stars and Stripes." Woodrow Wilson -----Original Message----- From: Matthew Carpenter [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2008 8:11 PM To: MS-Exchange Admin Issues Subject: Back Up Best Practices What is the latest recommendation on back up processes? We have been small enough to do full back ups daily for some time, but now face time issues with that and need to move to a tiered option. Is F-I-I-I-I reasonable anymore or is it too risky? I do not want to be stuck with a bad full back up in an emergency. -- http://www.otbdesign.com http://www.linkedin.com/in/mqcarpenter ~ Ninja Email Security with Cloudmark Spam Engine Gets Image Spam ~ ~ http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Ninja ~ ~ Ninja Email Security with Cloudmark Spam Engine Gets Image Spam ~ ~ http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Ninja ~ ~ Ninja Email Security with Cloudmark Spam Engine Gets Image Spam ~ ~ http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Ninja ~ ~ Ninja Email Security with Cloudmark Spam Engine Gets Image Spam ~ ~ http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Ninja ~
