Database Backups
Database Backups - Hot Backup vs. Cold Backup
Data and information are as important for an organization as blood in human body. In case data and information become unavailable due to any reason, all the working of the organization stops and it becomes unmanageable loss. In order to avoid such big loss, Database Administrator (DBA) must take backup of his database frequently according to the nature of the database. Normally full backup are done after one week but incremental backup are done on daily basis. Backup can be defined as second copy of original database produced by backup facilities provided by DBMS or operating system. This second copy or saved copy of original database is produced on separate storage media such as magnetic tape, external hard disk and on CD-drives. These should be placed in a separate and secure location, where unauthorized persons do not have any access. The best way, you can store your database backup online using Internet and you can access this backup any time, from any location using Internet. There are two important types of backup.
Hot Backup
You can say hot backup is dynamic or active backup. Hot backup is taken when database is running and data is being updated, added, or read by its users but doesn't handle running transactions. Only database management system (DBMS) facility can be used to take hot backups. Make sure that hot backups should only be done during low working hours. Hot backup is taken in environments where database needs to remain online 24-hours a days and 7-days a week, because they do not require downtime as in cold backup.
Cold Backup
Cold backup is taken when database is offline, not accessible for updating and users cannot do anything on the database.. DBMS as well as operating system facilities can be used to take the cold backup. Normally, cold backup is taken at the end of a working day or at weekends when database comes offline. Cold backup is suitable in environments where database is not running 24-hours a day. Instead, there are sometime intervals when it remains off.
Backups can be taken manually through the DBA or these can be taken automatically by configuring the DBMS. In case of automatic backups, you must specify day, time, and location on storage media where DBMS will take the backups. These settings are required when configuring the DBMS.
Windows backup
Regular windows backup:
My Documents
C:\Documents and Settings\User Name\My Documents\
I think the most important folder on your computer is My Documents because it holding your personal documents. It is intended to be a user's common repository for documents and folders. This folder usually already includes the My Music folder for music files and digital audio, the My Pictures folder for image files, and the My Videos folder for video files. Those folders usually take up a lot of space, and they are therefore recommended to be taken care separately. Check the Backing up My Documents topic for possible backup strategies for My Documents folder, and other related information.
* Start Menu
C:\Documents and Settings\User Name\Start Menu\
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\
The file system folders containing Start menu items. These folders already include the user's program groups, user's Startup program group, common program groups that appear on the Start menu for all users, and the program shortcuts that appear in the Startup folder for all users. Recommended for backup if you don't want to lose your Start menu along with the program groups and icons.
* Desktop Items
C:\Documents and Settings\User Name\Desktop\
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\
The file system directories used to store file objects and shortcuts on your desktop and on the desktop for all users. Recommended for backup if you want to keep your desktop icons and shortcuts safe and secure.
* Favorites
C:\Documents and Settings\User Name\Favorites\
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Favorites\
The file system folders that serve as a common repository for the user's favorite items. These favorites are usually displayed in the Internet Explorer menu. For some users this might be quite a large collection of links they have been collecting for years, the collection they may be wanting to keep safe and saved.
* Recent Documents
C:\Documents and Settings\User Name\Recent\
The system shell directory that contains shortcuts to the user's most recently used documents. They are listed in the My Recent Documents submenu of the Start menu. In most cases backing up is not that necessary.
* SendTo Locations
C:\Documents and Settings\User Name\SendTo\
The system shell folder that contains Send To menu items. These items may be backed up.
* Internet Cookies
C:\Documents and Settings\User Name\Cookies\
The file system directory that serves as a common repository for Internet cookies. Cookies are a means of saving web-site information, such as browser settings, user preferences, personal information, and passwords, on the client machine. If you surf on the Internet a lot, it is recommended to back up cookies.
* Internet History
C:\Documents and Settings\User Name\Local Settings\History\
The system folder that serves as a common repository for Internet history items, such as typed URL's etc. Internet Explorer's AutoComplete feature uses this collection, so you may want to back it up.
* C:\Windows\
C:\Windows\System32
The Windows system folders contain a lot of system application components, such as .exe, .dll, .ocx and more. The note from above applies to Windows system locations as well. Although you can choose to back up Windows folders, this backup won't help you much if you ever want to re-install Windows.