� Backup Cycle

A monthly Tape Backup Sequence

Monthly Backup sequence

Use this cyclical backup system to ensure you always have the most up-to-date backup at your fingertips, don�t overuse any one tape and get yourself in an unwavering backup routine.

Start with a total of 12 tapes.

• Name the first five tapes Monday to Friday "1".
• Name the second five tapes Monday to Friday "2". Name the last two tapes Friday 3 and Friday 4.

The first time you use the above labeled tapes put a start date on the tape.

• Monday - tape 1 start date 01/01/2026
• Tuesday - tape 1 start date 02/01/2026
• Wednesday - tape 1 start date 03/01/2003. Etc�

(This will help later when you need to identify how long the tape has been in use for.)

Use Monday to Friday "1" for the first week, Monday to Friday "2" for the second week, Monday to Friday "1" for the third week, Monday to Friday "2" for the fourth week.

In the third week of the cycle replace Friday "1" with Friday "3", and in the forth week replace Friday "2" with Friday "4".

At the end of the first month you use the cycle, remove the oldest tape (by looking at your start dates). Replace this tape with a new tape, remembering to name this tape the same as the one you are removing and to give it a new start sate the first time you use it.

Also remove the tape that was used on or before the last day of the month. If month end falls on a Sunday use the Friday tape. Label the month end tape appropriately and store it off site. You will not reuse this tape so you can also slide the read only protection across.

The old tape you removed in step 5 will now become your next month end tape. So at the end of the next month you will have to remember to place in the tape you removed in step 5 as your month end tape (good idea to rename the tape so you know which tape it was). At the same time remember to replace the oldest tape with a new tape. Repeat the cycle.

You are advised to keep the Friday tapes offsite, and the other tapes in a fireproof safe.