> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.autheo.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Backups and restore

> How to back up critical Autheo Chain validator files and restore from snapshots, including runbooks for data corruption, hardware failure, and license recovery.

## Critical files to back up

| File                             | Backup frequency                  | Risk if lost or misused                   |
| -------------------------------- | --------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- |
| `config/priv_validator_key.json` | Once — offline encrypted          | Cannot sign blocks                        |
| `data/priv_validator_state.json` | Before every upgrade or migration | **Double-sign risk if old copy restored** |
| `config/node_key.json`           | Once                              | P2P identity lost                         |
| Operator key mnemonic            | Once — offline encrypted          | Cannot recover operator account           |
| `config/app.toml`                | After each change                 | Restorable from defaults                  |
| `config/config.toml`             | After each change                 | Restorable from defaults                  |

<Warning>
  Never restore from an older copy of `priv_validator_state.json`. Signing a block at a height already signed results in slashing and **permanent tombstoning**.
</Warning>

## Creating a node snapshot

Always stop the node before creating a snapshot:

```bash theme={null}
sudo systemctl stop autheod
tar -czf autheo-snapshot-$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S).tar.gz \
  -C /path/to/node-home data/
sudo systemctl start autheod
```

## Automated daily snapshots

```bash theme={null}
# Add to crontab -e
0 2 * * * systemctl stop autheod && \
  tar -czf /backups/autheo-snapshot-$(date +\%Y\%m\%d).tar.gz \
    -C /path/to/node-home data/ && \
  systemctl start autheod && \
  find /backups -name 'autheo-snapshot-*.tar.gz' -mtime +7 -delete
```

## Restoring from a snapshot

<Steps>
  <Step title="Stop the node">
    ```bash theme={null}
    sudo systemctl stop autheod
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Remove old data">
    ```bash theme={null}
    rm -rf /path/to/node-home/data/
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Extract the snapshot">
    ```bash theme={null}
    tar -xzf autheo-snapshot-<timestamp>.tar.gz -C /path/to/node-home/
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Restore your state file">
    ```bash theme={null}
    cp /your/secure/backup/priv_validator_state.json \
      /path/to/node-home/data/priv_validator_state.json
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Restart">
    ```bash theme={null}
    sudo systemctl start autheod
    sudo journalctl -u autheod -f
    ```
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Download official snapshot

```bash theme={null}
wget https://snapshot.autheo.com/data_backup_latest.tar.gz
sudo systemctl stop autheod
rm -rf /path/to/node-home/data/
tar xzvf data_backup_latest.tar.gz
mv data/ /path/to/node-home/data/
cp /secure/backup/priv_validator_state.json /path/to/node-home/data/
sudo systemctl start autheod
```

## Recovery runbooks

### Runbook A: Data corruption

Restore from your most recent snapshot. Verify sync:

```bash theme={null}
autheod status | jq '.SyncInfo.catching_up'
```

### Runbook B: Full hardware failure (migration to new host)

1. Provision new host meeting [hardware requirements](/nodes/node-setup/node-setup)
2. Install `autheod`
3. Copy key files and config from backup
4. Restore latest `data/priv_validator_state.json`
5. Download a fresh snapshot for `data/`
6. **Power off the old host completely**
7. Start `autheod` on the new host

### Runbook C: Validator jailed

1. Fix the cause of jailing
2. Verify Sovereign license is not `REVOKED`
3. Submit unjail: `autheod tx slashing unjail --from mykey --chain-id autheo_2127-1 --keyring-backend file`
4. If license stays `BOUND`, re-delegate to reactivate

### Runbook D: License revoked

See [License lifecycle](/nodes/architecture/license-lifecycle) for the full reinstatement sequence.