# Copy flows\_compName.json to another computer

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/copy-flows-compname-json-to-another-computer/39245>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [17 January 2021 01:13 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/copy-flows-compname-json-to-another-computer/39245 "2021-01-17T01:13:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Henjoe](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/henjoe/32/52335_2.png) [@Henjoe](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Henjoe)\
**Post date:** [17 January 2021 01:13 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/copy-flows-compname-json-to-another-computer/39245/1 "2021-01-17T01:13:10Z")

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Hello nodered experts,

This is actually a question not related to programming but I am hoping that someone can help me here.

I have nodered running locally at my development Laptop (installed on specific folder). I used to copy this folder on a separate computer (production computer).

Now my problem is, everytime I copied it, my configuration inside the nodered was reset. For example I have an influxDB node, my condiguration of the influxdb server of username and password was reset, so I need to type in again the credentials.

So my question is..  
Is it possible to retain those information when I copied nodered to separate computer?

Thanks in advance.

With kind regards,  
Henjoe

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**Author:** ![Colin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/colin/32/17040_2.png) [@Colin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Colin)\
**Post date:** [17 January 2021 09:54 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/copy-flows-compname-json-to-another-computer/39245/2 "2021-01-17T09:54:56Z")

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You need to copy the credentials file too as that is where the user/pwd details are saved (encrypted). That is `flow_<host>_cred.json`. You also need to make sure the two systems have the same credentials secret used to encrypt the data. You may be setting that in settings.js.

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**Author:** ![Henjoe](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/henjoe/32/52335_2.png) [@Henjoe](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Henjoe)\
**Post date:** [17 January 2021 15:16 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/copy-flows-compname-json-to-another-computer/39245/3 "2021-01-17T15:16:42Z")

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Thanks Colin!

You mean the password that should have same password is the AuthAdmin settings ?

With kind regards,  
Henjoe

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**Author:** ![knolleary](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/knolleary/32/3_2.png) [@knolleary](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/knolleary)\
**Post date:** [17 January 2021 15:26 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/copy-flows-compname-json-to-another-computer/39245/4 "2021-01-17T15:26:48Z")

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No, this is not about adminAuth. This is about the credentialSecret setting.

When Node-RED starts, if you have not set credentialSecret yourself, there will be a big warning message telling you to set it.

If you haven't done so, then it will be using a randomly generated key to encrypt the credentials file.

1. Set credentialSecret in your settings file to some random string.
2. Restart Node-RED.
3. Make a minor change in the editor and hit deploy.  
It will reencrypt your credentials file using your preferred key.

Once you've done all that, you can copy your flow/creds files to another machine and ensure the credentialSecret value has been set in the settings file. You will also need to edit `~/.node-red/.config.runtime.json` and delete the `_credentialSecret` entry.

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**Author:** ![Henjoe](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/henjoe/32/52335_2.png) [@Henjoe](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Henjoe)\
**Post date:** [17 January 2021 16:19 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/copy-flows-compname-json-to-another-computer/39245/5 "2021-01-17T16:19:01Z")

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Oh I see..

Thanks for this info!

Never knew about this secret credentials.

With kind regards,  
Henjoe

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/1X/d073cd938eafa2e558d7c2cd59003b3ef4963033.png) [@system](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [18 March 2021 16:19 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/copy-flows-compname-json-to-another-computer/39245/6 "2021-03-18T16:19:05Z")

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