Files
go-ethereum/docs/_install-and-build/Backup--restore.md
Felix Lange 7416b05b81 [DOCS] massive documentation update (#20229)
This PR:

- reorganizes all documentation pages so they live in the right category
- removes lots of legacy docs
- contains many improvements to active documentation pages

Geth user documentation is now spread across five major categories:

- Install and Build: installation and compile instructions
- Using Geth: this is for pages about general geth usage.
- For dApp Developers: this is for programming guides and functionality specific
   to dapp development. All the dev guides for mobile framework and Go APIs live here.
- JSON-RPC APIs: this has its own section because there is now a sub-page for
   every name space. I have also added an overview text that explains how to set
   up the API servers.
- For Geth Developers: this is for geth contributors
2019-11-05 13:46:00 +01:00

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Markdown

---
title: Backup & Restore
sort_key: C
---
Most important info first: **REMEMBER YOUR PASSWORD** and **BACKUP YOUR KEYSTORE**.
## Data Directory
Everything `geth` persists gets written inside its data directory. The default data
directory locations are platform specific:
* Mac: `~/Library/Ethereum`
* Linux: `~/.ethereum`
* Windows: `%APPDATA%\Ethereum`
Accounts are stored in the `keystore` subdirectory. The contents of this directories
should be transportable between nodes, platforms, implementations (C++, Go, Python).
To configure the location of the data directory, the `--datadir` parameter can be
specified. See [CLI Options](../interface/command-line-options) for more details.
Note the [ethash dag](../interface/mining) is stored at `~/.ethash` (Mac/Linux) or
`%APPDATA%\Ethash` (Windows) so that it can be reused by all clients. You can store this
in a different location by using a symbolic link.
## Cleanup
Geth's blockchain and state databases can be removed with:
```
geth removedb
```
This is useful for deleting an old chain and sync'ing to a new one. It only affects data
directories that can be re-created on synchronisation and does not touch the keystore.
## Blockchain Import/Export
Export the blockchain in binary format with:
```
geth export <filename>
```
Or if you want to back up portions of the chain over time, a first and last block can be
specified. For example, to back up the first epoch:
```
geth export <filename> 0 29999
```
Note that when backing up a partial chain, the file will be appended rather than
truncated.
Import binary-format blockchain exports with:
```
geth import <filename>
```
_See https://github.com/ethereum/wiki/wiki/Blockchain-import-export for more info_
And finally: **REMEMBER YOUR PASSWORD** and **BACKUP YOUR KEYSTORE**