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    Database Backup:Select a backup method

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    Database Backup:Select a backup method

    Last Updated:Oct 17, 2024

    Database Backup (DBS) provides the following two backup methods for you to back up your databases in a continuous and cost-effective manner: logical backup and physical backup. You can select a backup method based on your business requirements.

    Differences between logical backup and physical backup

    Item

    Logical backup

    Physical backup

    Definition

    Logical backup backs up database objects such as tables, indexes, and stored procedures. Commonly used tools include MySQL mysqldump and Oracle exp and imp.

    Physical backup backs up database files in operating systems. Commonly used tools include MySQL XtraBackup and Oracle RMAN.

    Full backup

    DBS splits the data of all tables in a database and executes SQL statements on the database to read the data in multiple threads in parallel.

    A DBS backup gateway is installed on a database server to back up database files. For more information, see Install a backup gateway.

    Incremental backup

    DBS reads logs stored in the memory of a database and performs incremental backup based on the logs in real time. This prevents an I/O performance drop that may occur when a full backup is performed. The speed at which database logs are read is adjusted based on the rate at which the logs are generated.

    Feature

    • Finer-grained backup can be performed on databases and tables.

    • Databases are not locked during data backup. This minimizes the impact of data backup on database performance.

    • A database instance can be backed up only as a whole.

    • Data is read from the disks of a database, which affects the I/O performance of the database.

    • In most cases, physical backup and restoration are faster than logical backup and restoration.

      Note

      You can create DBS sandbox instances to use your backup data with ease. For more information, see DBS sandbox overview.

    Recommended database size

    1 MB to 1 TB

    Larger than 1 TB

    Supported database engines

    • Databases created on Alibaba Cloud support only the logical backup method.

    • For information about the backup methods supported by different database engines, see Database engines and features.

    Installation of a backup gateway

    Yes

    No

    References