# Restoring partial backup **URL:** \ **Category:** Percona XtraBackup\ **Created:** [June 13, 2012, 6:06pm UTC](https://forums.percona.com/t/restoring-partial-backup/2258 "2012-06-13T18:06:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jimj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/76d3ee/32.png) [@jimj](https://forums.percona.com/u/jimj)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2012, 6:06pm UTC](https://forums.percona.com/t/restoring-partial-backup/2258/1 "2012-06-13T18:06:52Z")
Hello, have a question on restoring partial backups with Xtrabackup. Following the instructions in: http:// [www.percona.com/doc/percona-xtrabackup/innobackupex/partial\_](http://www.percona.com/doc/percona-xtrabackup/innobackupex/partial_) backups\_innobackupex.html?highlight=partial I was able to successfully backup the partial and run the prep with the --apply-log and --export. From that point I got the new ibdata1 & ib\_logfile’s ready to be moved to a clean datadir on the target. The howto mentions the .exp files being created but wondering if I need these files after running: innobackupex --apply-log --export /temp/backups/2012-06-12\_14-47-47 I did delete the files and all works alright, but just wondering if I’m missing something. Are the .exp files only needed if going this route: http:// [www.percona.com/doc/percona-xtrabackup/innobackupex/importin](http://www.percona.com/doc/percona-xtrabackup/innobackupex/importin) g\_exporting\_tables\_ibk.html ? Also, another thing I noticed is the database is much larger in size now. It was 565M on the source and is now 1.8GB after the prep. Any ideas why? thanks, jim ---
**Author:** ![ameliataylor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e68b1a/32.png) [@ameliataylor](https://forums.percona.com/u/ameliataylor)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2012, 4:03am UTC](https://forums.percona.com/t/restoring-partial-backup/2258/2 "2012-06-15T04:03:04Z")
I have recently started working on partial backups.Will get back to you as soon as i get the solution.