Backup Set Concept

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Before starting with Backup2005 Pro, you need to understand how backup jobs are organized.
When you create a new backup set, the definition is stored in a file with a .BKS extension.

This file is placed into a subfolder of the Backup2005 Pro application folder named Bkset.
When you process a backup, Backup2005 Pro uses the definition to create the job.

Backed up data are stored in a compressed file. The file size is limited by your operating system and the file management used.
Backup2005 Pro offers also the way to store files directly to another destination (including CD and DVD) without compression. This mode is called 'Copy mode'

The maximum size of this file is 2GB if you are running Windows 9x/Me with FAT32, 4GB if you run NT/2000/XP with a FAT32 disk partition and potentially unlimited with Windows NT/2000/XP and NTFS partition disk (18 million terabytes).

When you set the 'Classic archive file' mode, this archive file is named with the Backup set name + the date (in year month day format) and time. This file is located in the folder specified when you create the Backup Set.
If you select the 'Unique archive file' mode this archive file is named with the same name as the Backup set.

During this process, a database stores information about files being processed. This database is called the Catalog.
This process can be disabled.

Another file is produced during the process. This file is called a log file and is stored in a Log subfolder.
Log files are text files, which contain a description of events occurring during backup, restore and other operations. They demonstrate if everything is working as it should, and help determine which files were backed up or restored.
Log files are optional.
Log files are named with the date ( year, month, day format) + time and a .LOG extension.
Log files can be set in complete or summary mode. In summary mode only errors and warnings are included.
You can choose to generate the log file as an html file. The extension file will be a .html.

When using the 'Classic archive file' mode the Backup Type is a key property of the Backup set.

A backup type allows you to specify how files should be selected for backup during a backup job. It also determines which files will be left for future backup jobs. Backup types rely on the archive attribute of a file. All files have the archive attribute and this is automatically updated by the operating system whenever a file is manipulated by any application. The attribute is checked to determine if a file has been modified since the last backup, and Backup2005 Pro uses this information, along with the backup type you have specified, to determine whether or not the file should be backed up during a given job.

There are three backup types.

·	Full : Backup every file, regardless of the archive attribute. Resets the archive attribute after a file is backed up

·	Incremental : Backup only the files that have the archive attribute set. Resets the archive attribute after a file is backed up.

·	First Full then Incremental : the first job is built as a Full backup. Subsequent jobs are made as incremental.

The Reset option used with the last mode allows you to define a cycle Full->only changed files->Full->only...
So, you can safely maintain different versions of the same files