STORE and TurboSTORE/iX Products Manual (B5151-90003)

16 Chapter1
Introduction
System Backups
System Backups
Storing all of the information on your system to backup media is called backing up your
system. You back up your system so that you have a copy of the information stored on it
should it experience a major failure that causes some or all of your files to be lost. If your
system experiences a failure, you can reload that information from your backup media.
Refer to subsequent chapters for complete instructions on performing system backups and
restoring files from backup media after a system failure.
Planning, managing, and performing necessary system backups are, perhaps, a system
administrator's/operator's most important tasks. Regularly scheduled, properly performed
system backups guarantee that, in the event of an unexpected system mishap, all
information present on the system at the time of the last backup is currently available.
If a system failure does occur, the amount of data lost depends directly upon three factors:
• How recently the last backup was performed.
• The level of system activity since the last system backup.
• The extent of the damage.
As a system administrator, you are responsible for establishing a backup schedule that
best meets the needs of your organization and all system users. For example, the schedule
may include saving all files in a particular account every day, or more commonly, copying
only those files that have been added or modified since the last complete system backup.
You or a member of your staff are probably also responsible for actually performing the
backups. In addition to user files, you must be sure to back up all system files since you
may need to restore these files from backup media if the system experiences problems.