← VCE Software Development U3O2

Full backup

A backup that copies all selected files every time it runs. Restoring is simple, but it uses lots of storage and takes longer than other backup types.

Part of: VCE Software Development - U3O2 - Analysis and Design — Module 77, VCE Data Analytics - U3O2 - Analysis and Design — Module 114, VCE Data Analytics - U4O2 - Cyber Security: Data Security — Module 82

Understanding Full backup in VCE Software Development U3O2

What it does: The repeated 50 GB shows every file being copied each time, which is why storage use and backup time are high. Wednesday's full backup contains everything, so no other backup sets are needed to restore. A full backup makes restoring simple since all the files are in one place. It uses the most storage, not the least. The broken statement confuses full backups with backups that copy only changed files.

Common mistakes: A full backup copies every selected file each time it runs, not just changed ones. The loop should be FOR EACH file IN folder. The program runs a full backup, so every file is copied. The message should say all files were copied, not only changes.

Class: _____________________  ·  Name: _____________________  ·  Date: _________

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 72–85) and word search (Modules 52–85).

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Learning
Duo
A full backup copies only the files that changed since the last backup.
TrueFalse
Matches
Full backup copies only files changed since the last backup
↓
This describes an incremental or differential backup. A full backup copies all selected files every time, changed or not.
Applying
Meanings
Term
full backup
Meaning
A backup that copies all selected files every time it runs. Restoring is simple, but it uses lots of storage and takes longer than other backup types.
Practice
BEGIN FullBackup
Testing
Gaps
SET backupType ←
Check Answer
Spots
1START full backup
2FOR EACH changed IN folder

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Quick Questions

1. A full backup copies only the files that changed since the last backup.
A. False ✓
B. True
A full backup copies ALL selected files every time it runs, whether or not they have changed. Copying only changed files is what incremental and differential backups do.
2. Which describes a full backup?
A. A copy of only the files changed since the last backup
B. A complete copy of all selected files each time it runs ✓
A full backup is a complete copy of everything selected. It does not depend on the previous backups to work out what to copy.
3. Restoring from a full backup is simple because...
A. Only one backup set is needed to restore everything ✓
B. Several backup sets must be combined in the correct order
Because each full backup holds a complete copy, a student only needs the latest full backup to restore. Combining several backup sets is needed for incremental backups.
4. A student's project folder is 2 GB. After 5 full backups are kept, roughly how much storage is used?
A. About 10 GB ✓
B. About 2 GB
Each full backup copies all 2 GB again, so 5 copies use about 10 GB. This is why full backups need large amounts of storage.
5. Which is a disadvantage of a full backup?
A. It makes restoring files more complicated
B. It takes longer to run than other backup types ✓
Copying every selected file each time takes more time. Restoring is the easy part of a full backup, not the hard part.

Match the Pairs

Full backup → Copies all selected files every time the backup runs, whether or not they have changed.
Restore from a full backup → Needs only one backup set to recover everything, so restoring is simple.
A full backup takes the most storage space and time because it copies every selected file each run → Mon 50 GB, Tue 50 GB, Wed 50 GB (all files copied each night)
A full backup is a complete copy, so a restore needs just one backup → Restore: use Wed full backup only
Full backup copies only files changed since the last backup → This describes an incremental or differential backup. A full backup copies all selected files every time, changed or not.
To restore a full backup, you need Monday's backup plus every later backup → Restoring from a full backup needs only one backup set. Needing several sets is true of incremental backups.

Key Term

full backup
A backup that copies all selected files every time it runs. Restoring is simple, but it uses lots of storage and takes longer than other backup types.

Fill in the Blanks

1. SET backupType ← FULL COPY all selected files TO backupDrive
Hint: Type the backup type, in capitals, that copies every selected file each time.
2. FOR EACH file IN selectedFiles COPY file TO backupDrive END FOR
Hint: Type the keyword that duplicates each file onto the backup drive.
3. SET backupsNeeded ← 1 RESTORE files FROM latestFullBackup
Hint: Type how many backups are needed for a simple restore.
4. backupSize ← sizeOfAllFiles storageUsed ← storageUsed + backupSize
Hint: Type the operator that makes storage use grow with each full backup.
5. IF backupType = FULL THEN SET copyTime ← LONG END IF
Hint: Type the keyword that follows the condition and starts the block that runs when it is true.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A START full backup
B FOR EACH changed IN folder
C COPY file TO backupDrive
D END FOR
Line B — A full backup copies every selected file each time it runs, not just changed ones. The loop should be FOR EACH file IN folder.
Question 2
A SET backupType TO 'full'
B FOR EACH file IN folder
C COPY file TO backupDrive
D DISPLAY 'Only changes copied'
Line D — The program runs a full backup, so every file is copied. The message should say all files were copied, not only changes.
Question 3
A ASK user for restore date
B FIND full backup for date
C RESTORE FROM all backups
D DISPLAY 'Restore complete'
Line C — Restoring from a full backup is simple because one backup holds everything. It should restore from that one backup, not combine all backups.
Question 4
A SET size TO 500
B SET backups TO 7
C SET total TO size * backups
D DISPLAY size, ' GB needed'
Line D — Each full backup stores a complete copy, so storage needed is size * backups. It should display total, not just size.
Question 5
A SET backupType TO 'changed'
B IF backupType = 'full' THEN
C COPY ALL files
D END IF
Line A — The program is meant to run a full backup, so backupType should be 'full'. With 'changed' the IF test fails and nothing is copied.

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