Scheduled backup jobs are often used by system administrators. Once created, they are executed automatically, without further operator or user intervention.
A total backup job backs up all the files nominated.
An incremental backup job backs up only the files that have changed since the last time they were backed up. Arkeia compares the live data file with the last copy of that file in the backup data set. If the file has changed, or is new, it is copied in this incremental backup job.
A differential backup job backs up only the files that have changed since they were last backed up in a total or archive level backup of the same scheduled backup.
An archive backup is a total backup with no validity date. The tapes containing a archive backup data set cannot be automatically recycled.
An automated backup program schedule will run total backup jobs at long intervals (for example, monthly), and in between the total backup jobs (for example, each week), partial (Incremental or Differential) backup jobs. When the Total backup job is run, it is useless to run an intermediate backup at the same time. To avoid clashes between backups in the same program, backup levels are assigned to each type of backup in the backup schedule.
Each Scheduled backup you create can have up to three levels, numbered 1, 2 or 3. Within this hierarchy, the Level 1 backup will replace or override the Level 2 backup, which will in turn replace or override the Level 3 backup. If we make our Total backup the Level 1, then make the intermediate backups Level 2, we can be sure that on the days a Total backup is done, Arkeia will not also run an Incremental or Differential backup. It is important to determine at the beginning of the configuration procedure when each level should be performed, and what will be the extent of the backup performed by each level.