Like levels 1 and 2, they are for backing up those blocks that have changed since the previous higher-level backup. They simply allow for breaking your incremental backup strategy into more pieces -- a deeper hierarchy if you will. I imagine not many people use them, but they're there if you want them. -- Jason Heinrich On Thu, Mar 18, 2010 at 8:47 AM, Guillermo Alan Bort <cicciuxdba@xxxxxxxxx>wrote: > Andrey, > > can you point to any documentation regarding levels 3 and 4? I can't seem > to find any, and can't fathom what they are for. > > cheers. > Alan.- > > > > On Thu, Mar 18, 2010 at 11:02 AM, andrey khudyakov < > andrey.hudyakov@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > >> Small clarification. >> in fact, there are 5 levels of incremental backups. >> 0 - is the base level, and 1-4 incremental levels >> >> 2010/3/18 Guillermo Alan Bort <cicciuxdba@xxxxxxxxx> >> >> According to Oracle Courseware (it's been a while, but I think I remember >>> it right). There are Full Backups and Incremental Backups. Full Backups take >>> the entire database, Incremental backups have different levels. >>> Level 0 Incremental Backup: Takes the entire database (works just like a >>> full backup, but is used for base point to level 1 and 2 incremental >>> backups). >>> Level 1 Incremental Backup: backs up all blocks changed after the most >>> recent incremental backup at level 1 or 0 >>> Level 2 Incremental Backup (differential): backs up all blocks changed >>> after the most recent incremental backup at level 0 >>> >>> >>> >>> >> >