When you hear people talking about databases, it may seem confusing at first. Here is some background information to give you a head start researching what is best for your situation. A database is a collection of data arranged together to make it easier and quicker to find specific information. They are used in many applications and are the preferred method of storage for multi-user applications. They are also convenient for single users. Having information stored on a separate database can also help you if need to recover deleted files.

Of all of the databases available, the most popular is the relational database. A relational database makes it much easier to find information because it utilizes a set of tables to store information. The tables are made up of columns that store the information. A hierarchal database is different in that it stores and organizes data in a tree like structure with an upward link to each saved record. Yet another type of database model is the network model. This type of database stores its data with links to other saved data records. Whether it is lost data or just the need to backup data, a database can be the answer.

There are several methods you can choose from for backup and recovery of databases. Some deal with full backup and some deal with selective backup. Make a checklist of files on your computer. This will help you decide what to backup and what isn’t really necessary or important, in case of lost data. Full backups are exactly as they sound; a full copy of the database is stored on the backup media. Full backups can be done without taking the database offline.

Full backups can take longer to complete than some of the others. Next we have what is called the differential backup. The differential backup only stores a copy of the data that has changed since the last full backup was completed. It is very important to remember that if you do have a database failure, since a differential backup would not be helpful with recovering lost data. You would need both the full and differential backups to restore your database properly.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 13th, 2008 at 6:54 pm and is filed under Computer & Electronics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.