What is Normal Backup?
A Normal Backup is a backup type in which all the selected files and folders are backed up. Also known as full backup, this is the most secure way of backing up files and folders to tape.

In a normal backup, the archive attribute is marked for each file and folder that is backed up. If the file is later modified, the archive attribute is cleared, indicating that the file needs to be backed up again.
Normal backups are the safest form of backup but take the longest and use the most tape. They are also the easiest form of backup to perform a restore from because you generally need only one tape to perform the restore (unless the amount of information to be backed up exceeds the capacity of the tape).
A good backup plan
A good backup plan consists of at least one normal backup each week, with either incremental or differential backups during the rest of the week.
Copy Backup?
Copy Backup is a backup type in which all the selected files and folders are backed up, but the archive attribute is not marked for each file and folder. Copies do not interrupt the normal backup schedule because they do not change the state of the archive bit on files being backed up. Copy backups are typically used to produce additional copies of backup tapes. Copy backups might be used for:
- Archiving information in a different location
- Generating tapes of month-end financials, which can then be given to the accounting department
- Providing branch offices with copies of information on file servers
Web References
Backup Equipment
- Desktop External Drive 8TB: Seagate Desktop 8TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB 3.0 for PC, Laptop And Mac, 1-Year Rescue Service (STGY8000400), Black (Amazon)
- NAS 8TB/12TB/16TB/24TB: WD 8TB My Cloud EX2 Ultra Network Attached Storage – NAS – WDBVBZ0080JCH-NESN