# Looks Like I Broken Node-Red Restoring Flows To Different Instance?

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/looks-like-i-broken-node-red-restoring-flows-to-different-instance/29072>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [27 June 2020 15:23 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/looks-like-i-broken-node-red-restoring-flows-to-different-instance/29072 "2020-06-27T15:23:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 11\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Nodi.Rubrum](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/nodi.rubrum/32/107482_2.png) [@Nodi.Rubrum](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Nodi.Rubrum)\
**Post date:** [27 June 2020 15:23 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/looks-like-i-broken-node-red-restoring-flows-to-different-instance/29072/1 "2020-06-27T15:23:02Z")

</div>

Looks like I broken node-red restoring flows to different instance? I backed up the flows on node-red instance A, then restored flows to node-red B. I had already changed the settings.js file to not use hostname as part of the flows\* file names. After the restore to B using files from A, the editor web page does not respond, browser can't load it at all. I guess there is something I missed in doing the above?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [27 June 2020 15:53 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/looks-like-i-broken-node-red-restoring-flows-to-different-instance/29072/2 "2020-06-27T15:53:02Z")

</div>

What does the log say when you start node-red?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Nodi.Rubrum](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/nodi.rubrum/32/107482_2.png) [@Nodi.Rubrum](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Nodi.Rubrum)\
**Post date:** [27 June 2020 16:09 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/looks-like-i-broken-node-red-restoring-flows-to-different-instance/29072/3 "2020-06-27T16:09:56Z")

</div>

Good question...

Also did one more test, back and restore to the same instance, editor did not fail this time, but the backup/restore failed. So I am definitely not doing the backup and restore correctly yet.

**Procedural steps, backup and restore on same instance:**

1. As backup, I download the files using pscp on Windows 10 desktop
2. Changed a simple flow, just one debug node removed
3. As restore, use pscp on WIndows 10 desktop to upload the files
4. After restore, I restart node-red
5. Start editor, this time it did open, unlike when I did the backup A and restore B scenario

**Log from above procedure...**

```auto
27 Jun 15:53:45 - [warn] Projects disabled : editorTheme.projects.enabled=false
27 Jun 15:53:45 - [info] Flows file : /root/.node-red/flows_pizero5.dachshund-digital.org.json
27 Jun 15:53:45 - [info] Server now running at http://127.0.0.1:1880/
27 Jun 15:53:45 - [warn]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Your flow credentials file is encrypted using a system-generated key.
If the system-generated key is lost for any reason, your credentials
file will not be recoverable, you will have to delete it and re-enter
your credentials.
You should set your own key using the 'credentialSecret' option in
your settings file. Node-RED will then re-encrypt your credentials
file using your chosen key the next time you deploy a change.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
27 Jun 15:53:45 - [info] Starting flows
27 Jun 15:53:45 - [info] Started flows
27 Jun 16:01:04 - [info] Stopping flows
27 Jun 16:01:04 - [info] Stopped flows
27 Jun 16:01:04 - [info] Starting flows
27 Jun 16:01:04 - [info] Started flows
27 Jun 16:02:19 - [info] Stopping flows
Stopping Node-RED graphical event wiring tool...
27 Jun 16:02:19 - [info] Stopped flows
nodered.service: Succeeded.
Stopped Node-RED graphical event wiring tool.
Started Node-RED graphical event wiring tool.
27 Jun 16:02:35 - [info]
Welcome to Node-RED
===================
27 Jun 16:02:35 - [info] Node-RED version: v1.0.6
27 Jun 16:02:35 - [info] Node.js version: v12.16.2
27 Jun 16:02:35 - [info] Linux 5.4.47+ arm LE
27 Jun 16:02:44 - [info] Loading palette nodes
27 Jun 16:03:06 - [info] Settings file : /root/.node-red/settings.js
27 Jun 16:03:06 - [info] Context store : 'default' [module=memory]
27 Jun 16:03:06 - [info] User directory : /root/.node-red
27 Jun 16:03:06 - [warn] Projects disabled : editorTheme.projects.enabled=false
27 Jun 16:03:06 - [info] Flows file : /root/.node-red/flows_pizero5.dachshund-digital.org.json
27 Jun 16:03:07 - [info] Server now running at http://127.0.0.1:1880/
27 Jun 16:03:07 - [warn]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Your flow credentials file is encrypted using a system-generated key.
If the system-generated key is lost for any reason, your credentials
file will not be recoverable, you will have to delete it and re-enter
your credentials.
You should set your own key using the 'credentialSecret' option in
your settings file. Node-RED will then re-encrypt your credentials
file using your chosen key the next time you deploy a change.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
27 Jun 16:03:07 - [info] Starting flows
27 Jun 16:03:07 - [info] Started flows

```

The problem is, the flow that was changed, removed the debug node, is not restored as expected. So I have two issues, 1) backup and restore on same node is not working as yet, and 2) backup A and restore to B, is not working, appears to break editor.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Nodi.Rubrum](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/nodi.rubrum/32/107482_2.png) [@Nodi.Rubrum](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Nodi.Rubrum)\
**Post date:** [27 June 2020 16:14 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/looks-like-i-broken-node-red-restoring-flows-to-different-instance/29072/4 "2020-06-27T16:14:07Z")

</div>

Wait... I just noticed the flow file being used on node-red start up is the wrong file, from the wrong directory.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [27 June 2020 16:15 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/looks-like-i-broken-node-red-restoring-flows-to-different-instance/29072/5 "2020-06-27T16:15:11Z")

</div>

I was about to say that you shouldn't be running as root unless you have a good reason.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Nodi.Rubrum](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/nodi.rubrum/32/107482_2.png) [@Nodi.Rubrum](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Nodi.Rubrum)\
**Post date:** [27 June 2020 16:16 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/looks-like-i-broken-node-red-restoring-flows-to-different-instance/29072/6 "2020-06-27T16:16:29Z")

</div>

Right, I think when I ran the install script to test if the ARM v6 install would move to ARM v7 instruction set, I was under root... which should not have been the case.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [27 June 2020 16:24 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/looks-like-i-broken-node-red-restoring-flows-to-different-instance/29072/7 "2020-06-27T16:24:24Z")

</div>

Also, I think there may well be other stuff installed using the v6 instruction set. Basically it just isn't a very good idea to mix them.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Nodi.Rubrum](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/nodi.rubrum/32/107482_2.png) [@Nodi.Rubrum](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Nodi.Rubrum)\
**Post date:** [27 June 2020 16:27 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/looks-like-i-broken-node-red-restoring-flows-to-different-instance/29072/8 "2020-06-27T16:27:01Z")

</div>

Thinking same. I was thinking I could use a single base image... and then just upgrade as needed. But... the more I test and validate, the more I think I will need two base images. One for ARM v6 older Pi devices, and another one for ARM v7 based Pi devices.

I am going to deploy node-red via the standard install script, but trigger it via something like ansible or such. Also thinking about using a local git server to deploy the flows to every Pi. I could deploy the flows via ansible as well, but the opportunity to learn how to setup a local git server is significant.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [27 June 2020 16:41 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/looks-like-i-broken-node-red-restoring-flows-to-different-instance/29072/9 "2020-06-27T16:41:21Z")

</div>

There is nothing to install other than git itself. It is a client and a server. You can use ssh for remote access so if that is setup then nothing more to do.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Nodi.Rubrum](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/nodi.rubrum/32/107482_2.png) [@Nodi.Rubrum](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Nodi.Rubrum)\
**Post date:** [27 June 2020 16:44 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/looks-like-i-broken-node-red-restoring-flows-to-different-instance/29072/10 "2020-06-27T16:44:17Z")

</div>

Nice, thanks for insight. I have used git for years, related to devepment work... but never created a server before from scratch.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/1X/d073cd938eafa2e558d7c2cd59003b3ef4963033.png) [@system](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [26 August 2020 16:44 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/looks-like-i-broken-node-red-restoring-flows-to-different-instance/29072/11 "2020-08-26T16:44:17Z")

</div>

This topic was automatically closed 60 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.