Backup contains only an img file - no metadata.json (or anything else)

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1

What is the problem?

I created and saved a backup from a previous version of Octoprint (running on Octopi) using the command line backup tool. After reinstalling Octopi, I moved the backup to the pi and attempted a restore using the backup:restore command, at which point it told me Not an OctoPrint backup, lacks metadata.json. I went to take a look at the backup, and... it only contains a single (large) .img file.

The backup is named octopi-1.1.0-1.11.2-20250610114348.zip and contains only octopi-1.1.0-1.11.2-20250610114348.img.

After some research, I take it this is Not Normal. :sweat_smile:

What did you already try to solve it?

Mostly googling around to see if anyone else has ended up with a backup file that has an img file in it instead of the usual (I now realize) set of files and directories. Didn't find anything, unfortunately.

Have you tried running in safe mode?

N/A

Did running in safe mode solve the problem?

N/A

Systeminfo Bundle

octoprint-systeminfo-20250719183620.zip (7.3 KB)

Note that all I've done is click through the setup dialog.

Additional information about your setup

Octoprint Version 1.11.2
Octopi Build 2025.06.10.114348 with "webcamd", based on OctoPi 1.1.0, running on Raspberry Pi 4 Model B Rev 1.2

Freshly flashed.

The full restore command:

pi@octopi:~ $ ./oprint/bin/octoprint plugins backup:restore ~/octopi-1.1.0-1.11.2-20250610114348.zip
Initializing settings & plugin subsystem...
Not an OctoPrint backup, lacks metadata.json
Removing temporary zip
Restoring from /tmp/tmphsfu4_iv failed
2

That is definitely not normal, what you are describing is a full sd card image backup that would be done with a command line like dd.

3

Right - which is why I'm confused that it's contained in a zip file and both filenames follow the backup tool's naming convention. Did the backup tool just take a full disk image? I dunno! I didn't think it did that!

4

AHA - problem solved.

The issue is that I'm bad at keeping track of things. The backup was elsewhere, while octopi-1.1.0-1.11.2-20250610114348.zip was the disk image to be flashed onto the SD card as part of the update.

The backup, octoprint-backup-20250713-232411.zip was:

  • also a zip file
  • had some numbers
  • said octo[something]

And my brain said "sure, probably the same thing."

Spoiler: they are not.