CompTIA Server+ (SK0-005)Security and Disaster RecoveryMedium
A server administrator is configuring a new backup strategy that involves storing backup tapes offsite. To minimize the risk of a single point of failure and optimize storage space, a specific rotation scheme is needed. The company wants to retain daily backups for a week, weekly backups for a month, and monthly backups for a year. Which backup rotation scheme is most appropriate?
- ALinear
- BTower of Hanoi
- CFirst-In, First-Out (FIFO)
- DGrandfather-Father-Son (GFS)
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Grandfather-Father-Son (GFS)
The Grandfather-Father-Son (GFS) backup rotation scheme is designed to balance data retention and media usage by having different retention periods for daily (Son), weekly (Father), and monthly/yearly (Grandfather) backups. This directly aligns with the requirement to retain daily, weekly, and monthly backups for specific durations.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Linear backup typically refers to a simple sequential backup of media without a complex retention strategy.
- B. Tower of Hanoi is a more complex mathematical puzzle, not a standard backup rotation scheme.
- C. FIFO simply discards the oldest backup when new space is needed, which doesn't meet specific daily/weekly/monthly retention.
Grandfather-Father-Son (GFS) Backup Rotation
A common backup rotation scheme that uses a hierarchical approach to retain different sets of backups for daily (Son), weekly (Father), and monthly/yearly (Grandfather) periods.
- Optimizes storage media usage.
- Provides multiple recovery points over time.
- Balances retention with cost-effectiveness.
Memory trick: GFS is like a family tree of backups: Son (daily), Father (weekly), Grandfather (monthly/yearly).