Backup Rotation Schemes

Question 1

3-2-1 backup

Answer 1

Three copies are made of the data to be protected, the copies are stored on two different types of storage media and one copy of the data is sent off site

Question 2

Tower of Hanoi

Answer 2

The first media set is used every second day.

The second media set is used when the first set is not used and is used every fourth day.

The third media set is used when neither of the previous sets are used and every eighth day and so on

Question 3

First in, First out (FIFO) backup

Answer 3

Saves new or modified files onto the “oldest” media in the set.

i.e. the media that contain the oldest and thus least useful previously backed up data

Question 4

Grandfather-father-son backup (GFS)

Answer 4

Common rotation scheme for backup media, in which there are three or more backup cycles, such as daily, weekly and monthly