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NetAlertX/docs/BACKUPS.md
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# Backing Things Up
> [!NOTE]
> To back up 99% of your configuration, back up at least the `/data/config` folder.
> Database definitions can change between releases, so the safest method is to restore backups using the **same app version** they were taken from, then upgrade incrementally.
---
## What to Back Up
There are four key artifacts you can use to back up your NetAlertX configuration:
| File | Description | Limitations |
| ------------------------ | ----------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `/db/app.db` | The application database | Might be in an uncommitted state or corrupted |
| `/config/app.conf` | Configuration file | Can be overridden using the [`APP_CONF_OVERRIDE`](https://github.com/jokob-sk/NetAlertX/tree/main/dockerfiles#docker-environment-variables) variable |
| `/config/devices.csv` | CSV file containing device data | Does not include historical data |
| `/config/workflows.json` | JSON file containing your workflows | N/A |
---
## Where the Data Lives
Understanding where your data is stored helps you plan your backup strategy.
### Core Configuration
Stored in `/data/config/app.conf`.
This includes settings for:
* Notifications
* Scanning
* Scheduled maintenance
* UI preferences
(See [Settings System](./SETTINGS_SYSTEM.md) for details.)
### Device Data
Stored in `/data/config/devices_<timestamp>.csv` or `/data/config/devices.csv`, created by the [CSV Backup `CSVBCKP` Plugin](https://github.com/jokob-sk/NetAlertX/tree/main/front/plugins/csv_backup).
Contains:
* Device names, icons, and categories
* Network configuration
* Custom properties
### Historical Data
Stored in `/data/db/app.db` (see [Database Overview](./DATABASE.md)).
Contains:
* Plugin data and historical entries
* Event and notification history
* Device presence history
---
## Backup Strategies
The safest approach is to back up **both** the `/db` and `/config` folders regularly. Tools like [Kopia](https://github.com/kopia/kopia) make this simple and efficient.
If you can only keep a few files, prioritize:
1. The latest `devices_<timestamp>.csv` or `devices.csv`
2. `app.conf`
3. `workflows.json`
You can also download the `app.conf` and `devices.csv` files from the **Maintenance** section:
![Backup and Restore Section in Maintenance](./img/BACKUPS/Maintenance_Backup_Restore.png)
---
## Scenario 1: Full Backup and Restore
**Goal:** Full recovery of your configuration and data.
### 💾 What to Back Up
* `/data/db/app.db` (uncorrupted)
* `/data/config/app.conf`
* `/data/config/workflows.json`
### 📥 How to Restore
Map these files into your container as described in the [Setup documentation](https://github.com/jokob-sk/NetAlertX/blob/main/dockerfiles/README.md#docker-paths).
---
## Scenario 2: Corrupted Database
**Goal:** Recover configuration and device data when the database is lost or corrupted.
### 💾 What to Back Up
* `/data/config/app.conf`
* `/data/config/workflows.json`
* `/data/config/devices_<timestamp>.csv` (rename to `devices.csv` during restore)
### 📥 How to Restore
1. Copy `app.conf` and `workflows.json` into `/data/config/`
2. Rename and place `devices_<timestamp>.csv``/data/config/devices.csv`
3. Restore via the **Maintenance** section under *Devices → Bulk Editing*
This recovers nearly all configuration, workflows, and device metadata.
---
## Docker-Based Backup and Restore
For users running NetAlertX via Docker, you can back up or restore directly from your host system — a convenient and scriptable option.
### Full Backup (File-Level)
1. **Stop the container:**
```bash
docker stop netalertx
```
2. **Create a compressed archive** of your configuration and database volumes:
```bash
docker run --rm -v local_path/config:/config -v local_path/db:/db alpine tar -cz /config /db > netalertx-backup.tar.gz
```
3. **Restart the container:**
```bash
docker start netalertx
```
### Restore from Backup
1. **Stop the container:**
```bash
docker stop netalertx
```
2. **Restore from your backup file:**
```bash
docker run --rm -i -v local_path/config:/config -v local_path/db:/db alpine tar -C / -xz < netalertx-backup.tar.gz
```
3. **Restart the container:**
```bash
docker start netalertx
```
> This approach uses a temporary, minimal `alpine` container to access Docker-managed volumes. The `tar` command creates or extracts an archive directly from your hosts filesystem, making it fast, clean, and reliable for both automation and manual recovery.
---
## Summary
* Back up `/data/config` for configuration and devices; `/data/db` for history
* Keep regular backups, especially before upgrades
* For Docker setups, use the lightweight `alpine`-based backup method for consistency and portability