What is the Archive Attribute?
Archive Attribute refers to:
- A file attribute that marks files as “not yet backed up”.
- It’s used to indicate which files need to be backed up.
Detailed Explanation
- Archive Attribute: This is a file attribute used as a marker for backup purposes. When a file has the archive attribute set, it means that the file has not yet been backed up and should be included in the next backup operation.
- Backup Process:
- Full Backup: All files are backed up.
- Incremental Backup: Only files that have changed since the last backup are backed up.
- Differential Backup: All files that have changed since the last full backup are backed up.
- How It Works:
- When a file is created or modified, its archive attribute is set (on).
- When a backup is performed, the archive attribute of the backed-up files is turned off to indicate they have been backed up.
- Files with the archive attribute still on are considered for future backups.
In Summary
When you encounter the term “archive attribute,” think of it as a “backup marker” for files. It indicates whether a file still needs to be backed up.