3-2-1 rule

[SiegfriedB]

Hi, regarding blog entry about the 3-2-1 rule, I have found that usually, the 3 copies include the original data (production copy) and then there are two backups. In the blog entry, is is stated that there should be 3 copies not including the production data. So, four copies in total. The blog entry links to a Veeam article in which the production data is the first copy and then there are two backups (Three copies total).

How do you do it? Do you use 3-2-1 at all?

https://www.starwindsoftware.com/blog/t ... ys-survive
https://www.veeam.com/blog/321-backup-rule.html

[yaroslav (staff)]

That's a good question.

I have found that usually, the 3 copies include the original data (production copy) and then there are two backups.

IMO, that's not correct because typically the rule talks about backup. It does not mention production data. Perhaps, the concept evolved with the flow of time.
In other words, you have production data + 3 copies of data (backups), to which 3-2-1 (or 3-2-1-1 or 3-2-1-1-0) is applied.

We do encourage users to use solid backup (https://www.starwindsoftware.com/best-p ... practices/). Yet, backup or not is purely up to the end-user.