big incremental backups

Luke212 · 9th September 2011, 10:25 AM

the daily incremental backups on my server are several gig, but im sure the actual new data would be a fraction of that. where does the size come from?

DavidRa · 9th September 2011, 10:31 AM

There are a few avenues you could look at. If you're backing up the incremental based solely on the archive bit, it gets set more often than strictly necessary so you do end up backing up a LOT of data.

People opening Word documents tend to save even if they haven't changed anything
Ditto for Excel
And PowerPoint
Visio too
Access databases can be big and any change causes the whole file to be backed up
PST files are modified on open - they can be multiple GB in size
Logs (e.g. event logs on Windows, /var/log on Unix)
In-house apps storing data/logs on the file server
People uploading MP3s to the server (and iTunes touching them).

CaptainBlame · 9th September 2011, 1:26 PM

Perhaps you could try reading the backup log?

oli · 9th September 2011, 4:54 PM

I agree with CaptainBlame. Reading the logs is generally a good place to start (and probably finish, since they tell all).

9th September 2011, 10:25 AM	#1
Luke212 Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: NSW Posts: 6,420	big incremental backups the daily incremental backups on my server are several gig, but im sure the actual new data would be a fraction of that. where does the size come from? __________________ Democracy's greatest trick was convincing man he was informed.

9th September 2011, 10:31 AM	#2
DavidRa Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Sydney Posts: 2,375	There are a few avenues you could look at. If you're backing up the incremental based solely on the archive bit, it gets set more often than strictly necessary so you do end up backing up a LOT of data. People opening Word documents tend to save even if they haven't changed anything Ditto for Excel And PowerPoint Visio too Access databases can be big and any change causes the whole file to be backed up PST files are modified on open - they can be multiple GB in size Logs (e.g. event logs on Windows, /var/log on Unix) In-house apps storing data/logs on the file server People uploading MP3s to the server (and iTunes touching them). __________________ Folding as djr 45,000 Club @ 4,000,000 Points Milestone Earlier: Folding as djr(at)wamoz(dot)com 20,000 Club @ 250,000 Points Milestone Blogging at http://www.pdconsec.net/blogs/davidr/

9th September 2011, 1:26 PM	#3
CaptainBlame Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 258	Perhaps you could try reading the backup log?

9th September 2011, 4:54 PM	#4
oli Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Internet Posts: 7,178	I agree with CaptainBlame. Reading the logs is generally a good place to start (and probably finish, since they tell all).