docs(backup): correct malformed config recovery guidance (#159259)

Replace the retired partial-state archive advice with a verified config-only export. Explain that workspace exclusion preserves ownership discovery and that config-only exports omit include dependencies. Direct users to take a full backup after repairing the config.

The ownership-discovery change in 4d48e9c1e0 intentionally retired partial state archives. Validated against current source, CLI help, retained CLI evidence, independent docs sanity review, and git diff --check. No runtime or test changes.

Co-authored-by: Peter Steinberger <steipete@gmail.com>
This commit is contained in:
Peter Steinberger
2026-09-26 17:21:05 -07:00
committed by GitHub
parent d9c7aa507d
commit ea2a69fe68
+12 -4
View File
@@ -69,10 +69,18 @@ workspaces remain ordinary workspace files. [Backup CLI](/cli/backup)
documents every flag, owner-declared regenerable resources, volatile files,
and verification details.
If the configuration is malformed, `--no-include-workspace` can still produce a
partial recovery archive for state, config, and credentials. Its skipped
diagnostics identify agent and plugin ownership that could not be resolved;
repair the configuration before relying on an archive as complete.
If the configuration is malformed, state archive creation fails because agent
and plugin ownership cannot be resolved. `--no-include-workspace` only excludes
workspace files; it does not bypass ownership discovery. Before repairing the
configuration, save the active config file:
```bash
openclaw backup create --only-config --output ~/Backups/openclaw --verify
```
This saves only the active JSON config file, without parsing it or including
its `$include` dependencies. Repair the configuration, then rerun the full
archive command above to protect state, credentials, agents, and workspaces.
Archives are full copies: each run re-uploads everything. They are the right
tool before an update, reset, uninstall, or machine move, and a reasonable