About a SharePoint non-granular backup vs. a backup that uses Granular Recovery Technology (GRT)
Non-granular backups allow the restore of SharePoint objects at the level of a Web Application. This type of backup also allows the restore at the level of the Single Sign-on database. Individual items cannot be restored from non-granular backups.
To restore individual items using Granular Recovery Technology (GRT), NetBackup performs a granular-level backup of the SharePoint Web Application. You can restore the entire database or you can restore items individually. Items can then be restored to the existing Web Application. For SharePoint 2010, you can also redirect to a file system location. Individual items are cataloged for restore browsing and for recovery on a granular-level backup image.
Note:
The farm databases (Configuration, Single Sign-on, Index Files and their Search databases) cannot be backed up with a policy that is enabled for individual item restores (GRT). For comprehensive farm disaster recovery, back up those databases with a separate policy where granular recovery is disabled.
Table: SharePoint Server non-granular backup vs. a backup that uses Granular Recovery Technology describes what SharePoint objects can be restored with non-granular and granular-level backups.
Table: SharePoint Server non-granular backup vs. a backup that uses Granular Recovery Technology
Object | Can be restored from a non-granular backup | Can be restored from a backup that uses Granular Recovery Technology |
|---|---|---|
Configuration database | Yes* | No |
Single Sign-on database | Yes* | No |
Global Settings | Yes* | No |
Index Files and their Search databases | Yes* | No |
Service Applications | Yes | Yes |
Web Applications or Content databases | Yes | Yes |
Site collections | No | Yes |
Subsites | No | Yes |
Individual lists or libraries | No | Yes |
Individual documents or list items | No | Yes |
* Only restore these items as part of a farm restore.