Consistent, Database-Level Backup
By default, when you back up a database you back up everything associated with it, including these items:
The configuration files.
The Security database, including all of its forests.
The Schemas database, including all of its forests.
All of the forests of the database you are backing up.
If you choose to back up all forests, you will have a backup that you can restore to the exact same state as when the backup begins copying files.
You can also back up any individual forests that you choose, choosing only the ones you need to back up. These forest-level backups are consistent for the data in the forest and any other forests included in the backup, but might not be consistent with changes that occur in other forests not included in the backup.
You can also choose not to back up the Security and Schemas databases. While having backups of these databases that are synchronized with the database backups is important to get the exact same view of the system as when the backup began, you might have separate processes for backing up these databases that can ensure proper consistency. For example, if they do not change frequently, you may only need to back them up when they change.
The database-level backup and restore in MarkLogic Server provides the flexibility for you to decide how much or how little you want to back up or restore. The choices you make depend on the amount of change in your system and your unique backup and restore requirements.