Types of Differential Backups (Full Recovery Model)
Each major type of data backup has a corresponding differential backup:
- A differential database backup is based on a full database backup.
- A differential partial backup is based on a partial backup.
- A differential file backup is based on a file backup.
Differential backups are taken in relation to a specific differential base or, occasionally, a set of bases (a multi-based differential). A differential base is a data backup is the reference point for the differential backup. Typically, a differential backup has a single differential base, which covers the same set of data files as the differential backup. A differential backup includes only the extents that changed since the differential base was created.
| Backup type | Description |
|---|---|
Differential database backup |
A backup of all files in the database, containing only the data extents modified since the most recent database backup of each file. A differential database backup contains enough log to allow recovery. For more information, see Differential Database Backups. |
Differential partial backup |
A backup of a single, previous partial backup, containing only the data extents modified since the most recent partial backup of the same part of the database. A differential partial backup contains enough log to allow recovery. A differential partial backup of a read-only database contains only the primary filegroup. For more information, see Differential Partial Backups. |
Differential file backup |
A backup of one or more files containing data extents changed since the most recent full database backup of each file. For more information, see Differential File Backups. |
Note
A differential backup contains just enough log to allow recovery.
See Also
Concepts
Backup Under the Full Recovery Model
Types of Data Backups (Full Recovery Model)