I concur that the underlying reason and thus the point of synthetic
backups is to shorten the backup window and reduce downtime and network
bandwidth utilization (at least after the first full is completed). We
disagree on what a true synthetic backup is and how it is implemented.

Regards

-----Original Message-----
From: veritas-bu-bounces AT mailman.eng.auburn DOT edu
[mailto:veritas-bu-bounces AT mailman.eng.auburn DOT edu] On Behalf Of dbergen
Sent: Tuesday, February 19, 2008 10:27 PM
To: VERITAS-BU AT mailman.eng.auburn DOT edu
Subject: [Veritas-bu] Question about synthetic backups


I might be able to enlighten you some. I'm not sure the differences
between synthetics in 5.1 and 6.5 as I am only using them in 6.5.

You're close but not quite on the mark about synthetics. The point of
the synthetic is to reduce server down time, shorten the backup window
and reduce network utilization by creating NEW backups by combining the
most recent FULL with ALL Differential backups newer than that FULL. The
FULL and Diffs aren't altered in any way, you don't want them to be, you
want to still be able to go back to them if you need to. The only thing
that is synthetic about the synthetic backup is the fact that it didn't
get the data directly from the server rather it got it from two or more
previous backups.

None of this helps my original question of course...

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