By Troy Cheeseman, President and COO at DataDepositBox
June 2, 2017

Data Deposit Box Cloud Backup Expert Tips: Implementing Dependable Linux Backup Systems

Although Windows dominates the operating systems market, Linux is one of the most popular operating systems used around the world. Not only is it open-source, free, but also comes packed with a number of data security features that make it an ideal choice for individuals and businesses alike. However, since the typical backup and disaster recovery procedures of Linux can be extensive and elaborate, it can be difficult to implement the best solution.

Here are some of the most common Linux backup methods, which you can choose from:

Full Data Backup
As the same suggests, full data backups make a complete copy of your files on the system. This method should be chosen for initial backup. It will also work in subsequent backups if the data is smaller. However, if the total data stored is extremely large, then you can set the backup program to only create backups of a few chosen folders that are the most important.

With full data backups, it is easier to control the backup versions. The process itself is also simpler and convenient. But, full backups can be storage-intensive and may take a long time for full recovery.

Incremental Backups
Incremental backup is different than full backup because instead of creating a backup of all the data, it only copies the files that have been changed since the last backup. So, if you have created a backup of your client database, then an incremental backup program will only add the new entries that have been added since the original backup image was created. For instance, you performed your weekly full backup on Sunday evening; then a couple of days later, on Tuesday evening, you performed an incremental backup to capture all the changes made since Sunday’s backup job. Again, you run another incremental backup on Thursday evening, capturing all of the changes made since Tuesday. This backup cycle continues until your next full backup is performed.

Incremental backup is way better than a full backup in terms of storage requirements and the backup process duration. However, during restoration, it processes every increment and thus can take a long time for a complete recovery.

Differential Backups
Differential backups record all changes made since your last full backup. For instance, you performed your weekly full backup on Sunday evening. A couple of days later, on Tuesday evening, you performed a differential backup to capture all the changes made since Sunday’s backup job. Again, you run another backup on Thursday evening, capturing all of the changes made since Sunday. This backup cycle continues until your next full backup is performed. Differential backup lies between full and incremental backups.

Network Backups
Network backup programs allow you to backup your data on to a different physical location by sending it across a network. It is a good option if you want storage-type independence and compatibility with different kinds of backup methods (full, differential, incremental, etc.). However, if you have to backup large files on a daily basis, then bandwidth costs could easily add up.

FTP Backups
FTP backups allow you to create backups using File Transfer Protocol. There are a number of web hosting providers who offer FTP features. In fact, there are many FTP clients available for Linux itself. The advantages of FTP backups include multi-user support with a single FTP account and a simple offsite backup creation process. However, FTP services do not provide de-duplication and compression, and the lack of encryption in FTP can be a security concern.

Conclusion
Linux has a decent selection of backup tools, some of which are open-source and free. However, if security and resilience are extremely important for your business, then you might want to consider an enterprise level cloud backup and disaster recovery solution, like Data Deposit Box.

Data Deposit Box (DDB) is an award-winning cloud data backup and recovery solution, specifically designed for small, mid-sized to enterprise organizations. DDB is differentiated by its numerous value-added and industry leading features – agentless technology, on-site portable local storage, multiple off-site data centres, and virtual environments support.

About the Author: Troy Cheeseman is the President and COO of Data Deposit Box, a publicly traded (OTC: DBB), Toronto-based cloud backup service provider.

 

 

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