Restoring Databases from Cumulative Incremental Backups

Use the following sequence when you perform a cumulative incremental backup in your data protection strategy:

1. Load the full backup.

2. Load the latest cumulative backup that was run before the recovery point.

3. Load the transaction logs to the point of recovery.

Example

You have the following backups.

1. Full backup (F1)

2. First cumulative backup (C1)

3. First transaction log backup (L1)

4. Second cumulative backup (C2)

5. Second transaction log backup (L2)

6. Third transaction log backup (L3)

If the recovery point is a time between the second cumulative backup (C2) and the second transaction log backup (L2), the restore sequence is:

1. Restore the full backup (F1)

2. Restore the second cumulative backup (C2)

3. Restore the second log backup (L2)