PLAN: 1.0.2 released; a branch per version

Release 1.0.2

.github/workflows/ci.yml

@@ -140,3 +140,5 @@ jobs:
         run: tests/integration/full-restore-roundtrip.sh 35-apache sqlite to-pgsql
       - name: Full restore with a damaged database dump (--salvage)
         run: tests/integration/full-restore-roundtrip.sh 35-apache sqlite salvage
+      - name: Full restore with a damaged and a missing pack (--salvage)
+        run: tests/integration/full-restore-roundtrip.sh 35-apache sqlite salvage-files

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ Each heading starts with that `<version>`, once: the app store shows a release t
 whose heading starts with its `x.y.z` and ignores anything after it, so `## [1.0.0-rc.6]` would be
 shown under 1.0.0. The git tag of a release candidate goes after the date.
 
-## [1.0.2] - unreleased
+## [1.0.2] - 2026-11-06
 
 ### Added
 - A warning on the admin page and in `occ backup:status` when background jobs do not run on a
@@ -34,9 +34,27 @@ shown under 1.0.0. The git tag of a release candidate goes after the date.
 - Full restores from S3 read the packs ahead, eight ranges at a time, as restores over SFTP do
   since 1.0.0-rc.4. Over SMB the packs are read in 8 MiB reads instead of 1 MiB: over a line with
   a 130 ms round trip, reading was four times faster in a test (18 instead of 4.5 MiB/s).
+- Over SMB the index files, which a new server reads in `backup:target:add`, take fewer round
+  trips: from Canada to a Hetzner Storage Box (130 ms), 0.66 instead of 1.05 s per file, so about
+  5 instead of 8 hours for the 27,000 index files of a 1 TB repository.
+- `occ backup:restore:full` that runs again after it stopped (`--force`) goes on where it was: data
+  files already in place with the size and modification time of the backup are left, and only
+  the rest is read from the location. Before, a stopped restore of 1 TB started over.
+
+### Fixed
+- A full restore over SMB could hang at 100% CPU when the connection to the server dropped: a
+  failed read was counted as data. It is now read again over a new connection. Found in a
+  disaster recovery test of 1 TB from Canada to a Hetzner Storage Box, after 392 GiB.
+- The read-ahead folder of a restore that was killed while it wrote is removed by the next run;
+  it kept one file of up to 8 MiB.
 - `occ backup:target:add` only estimates the time left for reading the index once enough of it
   is in. The first file also carries the time to connect, which made it say "about 642 min left"
   for something done within a minute.
+- A restore that stops because a file is gone from the location now points at `--salvage`, as it
+  already did for damaged data.
+
+### Known issues
+- Empty folders are not backed up or restored; to be fixed in 1.0.3 (#27).
 
 ## [1.0.1] - 2026-11-01
 

PLAN.md

@@ -407,6 +407,29 @@ in README "Known limitations":
     `--skip-missing-tables`; daarna `--salvage` op een deel van de bestanden (moet hetzelfde
     resultaat geven, exitcode 0). Uitvoeren met Dillard, die VM 980 klaarzet; deze week, vóór
     de release. Screenshots akkoord (2026-11-04).
+  **DR-test 1.0.2 over SMB (VM 980, snapshot a86271ed van nc01, 983 GiB, gestart 2026-11-04):**
+  index lezen 8 uur (~1 bestand/s; daarna versneld naar 0,66 s/bestand, gemeten vanaf VM 980);
+  restore zonder opties (geen `--install-apps`, geen `--skip-missing-tables`) liep ~12 MiB/s
+  (SFTP eerder 2,8-7,6; SMB vóór 1.0.2 2,6). Na 392 GiB viel de SMB-verbinding weg en bleef de
+  restore op 100% CPU hangen: de smbclient-extensie geeft bij een mislukte read een string met
+  lengte -1. Opgelost (controle + nieuwe verbinding), plus hervatten: `--force` laat bestanden met
+  dezelfde grootte en mtime staan. Hervat 2026-11-05 07:21 UTC na `maintenance:mode --off`
+  volgens de gids; binnen 10 min voorbij de 392 GiB. SMB op sub5 na de test weer uitzetten.
+  **Resultaat (klaar 2026-11-06 02:11 UTC, nazorg 02:27):** hervatte run 18 u 50 min, exit 0, 150.755
+  bestanden; 7-13 MiB/s (langzamer vanaf ~18 uur Duitse tijd, oorzaak niet vastgesteld). Vergeleken
+  met nc01: 150.467 van 150.758 bestanden gelijk in grootte en mtime, 397 op hash zonder verschil;
+  gebruikers, agenda's, contacten, shares en Deck gelijk; bestanden, agenda en contacten via WebDAV
+  getest als gebruiker. `backup:restore --salvage` op 16.904 bestanden: exit 0, geen verschil. Niet
+  vastgesteld: de 50.080 "updated" bij `files:scan`. Zonder `--install-apps` 51 van de 81 apps aan.
+  VM's 980-982 en de sim-backups op OVH en sub6 opgeruimd.
+  **Naar 1.0.3 (besluit 2026-11-06):** lege mappen komen niet terug (3.982 op nc01, 2.076 daarvan in
+  `files`, verklaart vrijwel zeker de 2.370 "removed" bij `files:scan`). De backup legt alleen
+  bestanden vast (`walk()`), dus oudere snapshots hebben ze niet. Voor een DR acceptabel, wel
+  fixen; issue #27. Daarna kleine volledige simulaties; een DR van 1 TB is hiervoor niet nodig.
+  **Salvage vóór de release getest (besluit 2026-11-06):** nieuwe modus `salvage-files` in
+  `full-restore-roundtrip.sh`, ook in CI: één pack beschadigd en één weg. Eerst stopt de restore,
+  daarna `--salvage --force` volgens de gids. Vond één fout: bij een ontbrekend bestand wees de
+  melding niet naar `--salvage` (opgelost).
   Stand 2026-11-04 (`polish`, gepusht): cron-waarschuwing + tick vanaf de pagina +
   voortgang van de db-fase; `--salvage` voor `backup:restore` en `backup:restore:full`; S3
   vooruitlezen (8 ranges tegelijk, met `SaveAs` naar de spool); SMB in leesacties van 8 MiB
@@ -414,7 +437,10 @@ in README "Known limitations":
   met vertraging is nog niet gemeten); Bin-tabblad; schatting `target:add`; nieuwe screenshots
   (1–3 vervangen, 4-bin erbij; in `info.xml` bij de release naar tag v1.0.2 laten wijzen en
   4-bin toevoegen). Getest: unit (208), psalm, integratie NC35 sqlite/pgsql, S3/SFTP/FTP/SMB,
-  volledige restore met `--salvage`. Nog te doen: DR-test, release.
+  volledige restore met `--salvage`. **1.0.2 uitgebracht 2026-11-06** (tag `v1.0.2`, PR #28).
+- **Branches (besluit 2026-11-06):** werk voor een versie op een branch met die naam (`1.0.3`);
+  `polish` alleen voor kleine cosmetische zaken, per geval bekijken of en wanneer die gemerged
+  worden. SMB staat uit op sub5 en sub6; sub6 is het testaccount, eerst aanzetten voor een SMB-test.
 - **1.0.1** (uitgebracht 2026-11-01): alleen de kleine punten (besluit 2026-10-30): 4, 6–13. Punten 1, 2 en 5 gaan naar
   1.0.2 (README-roadmap aangepast); punt 3 is een test, ingepland voor de week van 2 november,
   niet aangekondigd en los van de release. Voor 1.0.2 ook: nieuwe screenshots (het labelveld bij

README.md

@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ installations and hosted Nextcloud. (Choosing SMB as a storage backend is the on
 see "Storage backend experiences" below — that requirement comes from files_external, not from
 ng_backup, and applies to any Nextcloud app that writes to an SMB share.)
 
-**Status: 1.0.1, stable.** Disaster recovery has been tested on real installations (see "Tested
+**Status: 1.0.2, stable.** Disaster recovery has been tested on real installations (see "Tested
 disaster recoveries" below). See "Known limitations" below, `PLAN.md` for the design and
 `docs/HOWTO.md` for a step-by-step guide from setup to a tested restore. Server lost? See
 `docs/DISASTER-RECOVERY.md`.
@@ -168,6 +168,7 @@ Full restores onto a fresh server, following only [the guide](docs/DISASTER-RECO
 | Backup | Location | Database | Result |
 |---|---|---|---|
 | Production, about 1 TB, 150,000 files (Nextcloud All-in-One) | Hetzner Storage Box (SFTP), Germany → Canada | PostgreSQL → PostgreSQL | 150,622 files restored in about 25 h (13-14 MiB/s), sample identical |
+| The same, 1.0.2 | Hetzner Storage Box (SMB), Germany → Canada | PostgreSQL → PostgreSQL | 150,755 files restored in about 29 h (7-13 MiB/s), going on after a lost connection; sample identical, empty folders not restored ([#27](https://github.com/dillardblom/ng_backup/issues/27)) |
 | 138 GB simulation: 20 users, calendars, contacts, mail, shares, team folders with an ACL, versions, trash | OVH S3, Warsaw → Canada | MariaDB → PostgreSQL | all 15,772 files and every database count identical |
 | The same | OVH S3 | MariaDB → MariaDB | all 15,772 files and every database count identical |
 | The same | Hetzner Storage Box (SMB), Germany → Canada | MariaDB → SQLite | all 15,772 files and every database count identical (27.6 h, about 1.5 MB/s) |
@@ -264,16 +265,9 @@ What is planned, without dates. Ideas and votes are welcome in the
 [issues](https://github.com/dillardblom/ng_backup/issues); if something you need is listed here,
 a 👍 on its issue helps decide what comes first.
 
-**1.0.2**
+**1.0.3**
-- A warning on the admin page and in `occ backup:status` when background jobs do not run on a
+- Empty folders in the backup and the restore
-  system cron, with how to set one up. Without cron, a backup started with "Back up now" moves on
+  ([#27](https://github.com/dillardblom/ng_backup/issues/27)).
-  while the NG Backup page is open, and the database phase of a backup shows its progress
-  ([#13](https://github.com/dillardblom/ng_backup/issues/13)).
-- Faster full restores from S3 and SMB, reading ahead as restores over SFTP do since 1.0.0-rc.4.
-- `--salvage` for a restore: restore what can be read, skip a file that cannot, and list those at
-  the end instead of stopping.
-- The trash of restore points (most of them moved there by the retention policy) on a tab of its
-  own, "Bin", instead of below the list of restore points.
 
 **1.1.0**
 - Restore without the recovery kit: the backup key from the location itself, opened with one of
@@ -299,6 +293,9 @@ a 👍 on its issue helps decide what comes first.
 
 On the backlog; know them before you rely on NG Backup:
 
+- **Empty folders do not come back.** A backup only records files, so a folder without files is
+  not restored. To be fixed in 1.0.3
+  ([#27](https://github.com/dillardblom/ng_backup/issues/27)).
 - **Only the data directory is backed up.** Object storage as primary storage (`objectstore` in
   `config.php`) is not supported: a backup refuses to start there. Folders mounted through the
   External storage app are not in the data directory and are **not included**, without a warning.

appinfo/info.xml

@@ -40,12 +40,12 @@ NG Backup needs Nextcloud's background jobs on system cron (a real cron line, no
 Read "Known limitations" in the README before you rely on it, and test a restore. Feedback is very
 welcome: use the "Share your experience" link on the admin page.
 
-If you like NG Backup, don't forget to give the app a star in the app store and the
+**If you like NG Backup, don't forget to give the app a star in the app store and the
-[repository](https://github.com/dillardblom/ng_backup) a star on GitHub!
+[repository](https://github.com/dillardblom/ng_backup) a star on GitHub!**
 
 Developed and sponsored by [Ensembia](https://www.ensembia.com). We can offer (paid) assistance if
 you need help with restoring a backup after a crash.]]></description>
-    <version>1.0.1</version>
+    <version>1.0.2</version>
     <licence>agpl</licence>
     <author mail="dillard.blom@ensembia.com">Dillard Blom</author>
     <namespace>NgBackup</namespace>
@@ -56,9 +56,10 @@ you need help with restoring a backup after a crash.]]></description>
     <website>https://github.com/dillardblom/ng_backup</website>
     <bugs>https://github.com/dillardblom/ng_backup/issues</bugs>
     <repository type="git">https://github.com/dillardblom/ng_backup</repository>
-    <screenshot>https://raw.githubusercontent.com/dillardblom/ng_backup/v1.0.1/screenshots/1-backups.png</screenshot>
+    <screenshot>https://raw.githubusercontent.com/dillardblom/ng_backup/v1.0.2/screenshots/1-backups.png</screenshot>
-    <screenshot>https://raw.githubusercontent.com/dillardblom/ng_backup/v1.0.1/screenshots/2-restore.png</screenshot>
+    <screenshot>https://raw.githubusercontent.com/dillardblom/ng_backup/v1.0.2/screenshots/2-restore.png</screenshot>
-    <screenshot>https://raw.githubusercontent.com/dillardblom/ng_backup/v1.0.1/screenshots/3-settings.png</screenshot>
+    <screenshot>https://raw.githubusercontent.com/dillardblom/ng_backup/v1.0.2/screenshots/3-settings.png</screenshot>
+    <screenshot>https://raw.githubusercontent.com/dillardblom/ng_backup/v1.0.2/screenshots/4-bin.png</screenshot>
     <dependencies>
         <php min-version="8.1"/>
         <lib>sodium</lib>

docs/DISASTER-RECOVERY.md

@@ -103,7 +103,9 @@ mode on yourself before, it stays on: switch it off with `occ maintenance:mode -
 If it stops halfway, maintenance mode stays on (the instance may be partly restored). Fix the cause,
 then switch maintenance mode off and run the restore again with `--force`, in one line (the message
 prints it): `occ maintenance:mode --off && occ backup:restore:full <location> <snapshot> --force`.
-Leave out `--install-apps` this time, so that the instance is open only for the seconds until the
+It goes on where it stopped: data files that are already in place with the size and modification
+time of the backup are left, so only the rest comes from the location again (since 1.0.2; before,
+it started over). The database is restored again in full, which takes minutes. Leave out `--install-apps` this time, so that the instance is open only for the seconds until the
 restore has switched maintenance mode on again; apps the first run could not install are listed at
 the end of the restore, install those afterwards.
 If occ then says that Nextcloud or one of the apps requires an upgrade, the database is already
@@ -138,6 +140,9 @@ The command then ends with exit code 2 instead of 0. The same option exists for
 - From Nextcloud All-in-One to a regular server: also check the cache settings (`memcache.*`,
   `redis`), which point at AIO's containers.
 - Log in, open a few files, a calendar and a contact.
+- Empty folders do not come back: a backup only records files (to be fixed in 1.0.3, see
+  [issue #27](https://github.com/dillardblom/ng_backup/issues/27)). `occ files:scan` then removes
+  them from the file cache, so it reports them as removed.
 - Start background jobs again (cron), as in step 2 in reverse.
 
 **10. Point your domain at the new server** and check that clients reconnect.

lib/Backend/StorageBackend.php

@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ final class StorageBackend implements IBackend, IReadsAhead {
 
 	/**
 	 * Over SFTP and S3 several at a time (SftpReadStream::readMany(), s3Fetch()); elsewhere one
-	 * after the other.
+	 * after the other, over SMB in fewer round trips (smbWhole()).
 	 */
 	public function getMany(array $paths): \Generator {
 		$size = $this->s3Reads ? 16 * self::S3_CONCURRENCY : 8 * SftpReadStream::BATCH;
@@ -149,7 +149,8 @@ final class StorageBackend implements IBackend, IReadsAhead {
 				$fast = $fast === null ? null : array_combine($chunk, array_map(fn (string $a): ?string => $fast[$a] ?? null, $abs));
 			}
 			foreach ($chunk as $path) {
-				$data = $fast[$path] ?? null;
+				// over SMB in fewer round trips, one after the other (smbWhole())
+				$data = $fast[$path] ?? $this->smbWhole($this->abs($path));
 				if ($data === null) {
 					// not read in the batch (or no batches here): the usual way, which also
 					// reports a missing file as such
@@ -411,7 +412,8 @@ final class StorageBackend implements IBackend, IReadsAhead {
 				}
 			}
 		} catch (\Throwable) {
-			// read the usual way below, which reports what is wrong
+			// read the usual way below, which reports what is wrong, over a new connection
+			$this->smbReconnect();
 		}
 		$fh = $this->get($path);
 		try {
@@ -543,6 +545,126 @@ final class StorageBackend implements IBackend, IReadsAhead {
 	 * @psalm-suppress UndefinedClass icewind/smb comes with files_external, not with this app
 	 */
 	private function smbChunks(string $abs, int $offset, int $length): ?\Generator {
+		$handle = $this->smbHandle($abs);
+		if ($handle === null) {
+			return null;
+		}
+		[$state, $url] = $handle;
+		/** @psalm-suppress MixedMethodCall the state is icewind's NativeState */
+		return (static function () use ($state, $url, $offset, $length): \Generator {
+			$fh = $state->open($url, 'r');
+			try {
+				$state->lseek($fh, $offset, SEEK_SET, $url);
+				for ($got = 0; $got < $length;) {
+					$want = min(self::SMB_READ, $length - $got);
+					$chunk = self::smbRead($state, $fh, $want, $url);
+					if ($chunk === '') {
+						throw new BackendException('Short read in ' . $url);
+					}
+					$got += strlen($chunk);
+					yield $chunk;
+				}
+			} finally {
+				$state->close($fh, $url);
+			}
+		})();
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * A whole (small) file over SMB in four round trips: open, read, read up to the end, close.
+	 * files_external's fopen() first checks that the file exists (a stat with its attributes) and
+	 * icewind's stream reads 1 MiB at a time: about 7 round trips, 1 s per index file from Canada
+	 * to the Storage Box (130 ms), so ~8 h for the 27,000 index files of a 1 TB repository. Null
+	 * when the storage is not SMB through the extension or anything fails: the usual way then
+	 * reads the file and reports a missing one as such.
+	 *
+	 * @psalm-suppress UndefinedClass icewind/smb comes with files_external, not with this app
+	 */
+	private function smbWhole(string $abs): ?string {
+		$handle = $this->smbHandle($abs);
+		if ($handle === null) {
+			return null;
+		}
+		[$state, $url] = $handle;
+		try {
+			/** @psalm-suppress MixedMethodCall the state is icewind's NativeState */
+			$fh = $state->open($url, 'r');
+		} catch (\Throwable) {
+			return null;
+		}
+		$data = '';
+		try {
+			do {
+				$chunk = self::smbRead($state, $fh, self::SMB_READ, $url);
+				$data .= $chunk;
+			} while ($chunk !== '');
+		} catch (\Throwable) {
+			$data = null;
+		}
+		try {
+			/** @psalm-suppress MixedMethodCall */
+			$state->close($fh, $url);
+		} catch (\Throwable) {
+		}
+		if ($data === null) {
+			$this->smbReconnect(); // a read failed: the usual way reads it over a new connection
+		}
+		return $data;
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * One read of at most $bytes through the native state, checked. When libsmbclient fails a read
+	 * (seen when the connection to the server dropped during a long restore), the smbclient
+	 * extension does not return false but a string whose length is -1, because it stores
+	 * smbc_read()'s -1 in an unsigned length; icewind passes it on. Counting that as data made
+	 * the read loop go backwards forever at 100% CPU (DR test 2026-11-05, after 392 GiB).
+	 *
+	 * @param resource $fh
+	 * @psalm-suppress MixedMethodCall, MixedArgument the state is icewind's NativeState
+	 */
+	private static function smbRead(object $state, $fh, int $bytes, string $url): string {
+		$chunk = $state->read($fh, $bytes, $url);
+		$n = is_string($chunk) ? strlen($chunk) : -1;
+		if ($n < 0 || $n > $bytes) {
+			throw new BackendException('Read failed in ' . $url);
+		}
+		return $chunk;
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * After a failed read: drop icewind's connection state, so the next read (the usual way, or
+	 * the next range) connects again instead of failing on a connection that is gone.
+	 *
+	 * @psalm-suppress UndefinedClass icewind/smb comes with files_external, not with this app
+	 */
+	private function smbReconnect(): void {
+		if (!$this->storage instanceof \OCA\Files_External\Lib\Storage\SMB) {
+			return;
+		}
+		try {
+			(function (): void {
+				/** @psalm-suppress UndefinedThisPropertyFetch */
+				$share = $this->share;
+				if ($share instanceof \Icewind\SMB\Native\NativeShare) {
+					(function (): void {
+						/** @psalm-suppress UndefinedThisPropertyAssignment */
+						$this->state = null;
+					})->call($share);
+				}
+			})->call($this->storage);
+		} catch (\Throwable) {
+		}
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * icewind's NativeState and the smb:// URL of $abs behind files_external's SMB storage, reached
+	 * through bound closures; null when the storage is not SMB through the native extension or its
+	 * internals are not as expected.
+	 *
+	 * @return array{0: object, 1: string}|null
+	 * @psalm-suppress UndefinedClass icewind/smb comes with files_external, not with this app
+	 */
+	private function smbHandle(string $abs): ?array {
 		if (!$this->storage instanceof \OCA\Files_External\Lib\Storage\SMB || !extension_loaded('smbclient')) {
 			return null;
 		}
@@ -562,27 +684,7 @@ final class StorageBackend implements IBackend, IReadsAhead {
 		} catch (\Throwable) {
 			return null;
 		}
-		if ($handle === null) {
+		return $handle;
-			return null;
-		}
-		[$state, $url] = $handle;
-		/** @psalm-suppress MixedMethodCall the state is icewind's NativeState */
-		return (static function () use ($state, $url, $offset, $length): \Generator {
-			$fh = $state->open($url, 'r');
-			try {
-				$state->lseek($fh, $offset, SEEK_SET, $url);
-				for ($got = 0; $got < $length;) {
-					$chunk = (string)$state->read($fh, min(self::SMB_READ, $length - $got), $url);
-					if ($chunk === '') {
-						throw new BackendException('Short read in ' . $url);
-					}
-					$got += strlen($chunk);
-					yield $chunk;
-				}
-			} finally {
-				$state->close($fh, $url);
-			}
-		})();
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -602,12 +704,15 @@ final class StorageBackend implements IBackend, IReadsAhead {
 			try {
 				foreach ($abs as $i => [$path, $offset, $length]) {
 					$fh = null;
+					$out = false;
 					try {
 						$chunks = $this->smbChunks($path, $offset, $length);
 						$out = $chunks === null ? false : fopen($file, 'w+b');
 						if ($chunks !== null && $out !== false) {
 							foreach ($chunks as $chunk) {
-								fwrite($out, $chunk);
+								if (fwrite($out, $chunk) !== strlen($chunk)) {
+									throw new BackendException('Cannot write to the spool');
+								}
 							}
 							$fh = ftell($out) === $length && rewind($out) ? $out : null;
 							if ($fh === null) {
@@ -615,7 +720,11 @@ final class StorageBackend implements IBackend, IReadsAhead {
 							}
 						}
 					} catch (\Throwable) {
-						$fh = null; // read the usual way, which reports why
+						if (is_resource($out)) {
+							fclose($out);
+						}
+						$fh = null; // read the usual way, which reports why, over a new connection
+						$this->smbReconnect();
 					} finally {
 						@unlink($file); // an open stream keeps its data
 					}

lib/Command/Restore.php

@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ HELP);
 				}, $skipped);
 		} catch (\Throwable $e) {
 			$output->writeln('<error>' . $e->getMessage() . '</error>');
-			if ($skipped === null && ($e instanceof \OCA\NgBackup\Repository\RepositoryException || $e instanceof \OCA\NgBackup\Crypto\CryptoException)) {
+			if ($skipped === null && self::backupLooksDamaged($e)) {
 				$output->writeln('The data of a file on the location is damaged or missing. Run the same command with --salvage to restore everything else and list what could not be restored.');
 			}
 			return 1;
@@ -76,6 +76,13 @@ HELP);
 		return self::reportSkipped($skipped, $output);
 	}
 
+	/** Damaged data, or a file that is gone from the location: what --salvage is for. */
+	public static function backupLooksDamaged(\Throwable $e): bool {
+		return $e instanceof \OCA\NgBackup\Repository\RepositoryException
+			|| $e instanceof \OCA\NgBackup\Crypto\CryptoException
+			|| ($e instanceof \OCA\NgBackup\Backend\BackendException && str_starts_with($e->getMessage(), 'Not found'));
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * The files --salvage left out; exit code 2 when there are any.
 	 *

lib/Command/RestoreFull.php

@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ HELP);
 				$output->writeln('If this happened after the restore had started, the instance may be partly restored: fix the cause and run the same command again with --force.');
 			}
 			$output->writeln('If occ then says that Nextcloud needs an upgrade (the database is already the old server\'s), run occ upgrade first.');
-			if (!$input->getOption('salvage') && ($e instanceof \OCA\NgBackup\Repository\RepositoryException || $e instanceof \OCA\NgBackup\Crypto\CryptoException)) {
+			if (!$input->getOption('salvage') && Restore::backupLooksDamaged($e)) {
 				$output->writeln('The backup itself looks damaged here. --salvage restores everything that can be read and lists the rest.');
 			}
 			return 1;

lib/Repository/Repository.php

@@ -224,14 +224,18 @@ final class Repository {
 	 * @param array<string, string>|null $skipped salvage: an array to collect the files that could
 	 *             not be read or decrypted (path => reason), which are then left out instead of
 	 *             stopping the restore; null (default) stops at the first such file
+	 * @param bool $keepUnchanged leave a file that is already in place with the size and
+	 *             modification time of the snapshot, as a backup takes such a file as unchanged:
+	 *             a restore that was stopped and runs again goes on where it was, without reading
+	 *             what it already restored from the location again
 	 */
-	public function restore(string $snapshotId, string $target, string $prefix = '', bool $stripPrefix = false, ?callable $heartbeat = null, ?array &$skipped = null): int {
+	public function restore(string $snapshotId, string $target, string $prefix = '', bool $stripPrefix = false, ?callable $heartbeat = null, ?array &$skipped = null, bool $keepUnchanged = false): int {
 		if ($prefix !== '' && !self::isSafePath(rtrim($prefix, '/'))) {
 			throw new RepositoryException('Invalid path prefix');
 		}
-		$plan = $this->readAhead($snapshotId, $prefix, $target);
+		$plan = $this->readAhead($snapshotId, $prefix, $target, $stripPrefix, $keepUnchanged);
 		try {
-			return $this->restoreEntries($snapshotId, $target, $prefix, $stripPrefix, $heartbeat, $plan, $skipped);
+			return $this->restoreEntries($snapshotId, $target, $prefix, $stripPrefix, $heartbeat, $plan, $skipped, $keepUnchanged);
 		} finally {
 			$plan?->close();
 			if ($plan !== null) {
@@ -245,13 +249,23 @@ final class Repository {
 	 * pass over the snapshot lists the ranges of packs it needs, in order. The spool is a
 	 * folder in the target, which has room for the restore anyway.
 	 */
-	private function readAhead(string $snapshotId, string $prefix, string $target): ?ReadAheadPlan {
+	private function readAhead(string $snapshotId, string $prefix, string $target, bool $stripPrefix, bool $keepUnchanged): ?ReadAheadPlan {
 		if (!$this->backend instanceof IReadsAhead || !$this->backend->canReadAhead()) {
 			return null;
 		}
-		// what a restore that was stopped left behind: empty, its files were unlinked when opened
+		// what a restore that was stopped left behind: its files are unlinked once opened, but one
+		// that was being written when the process was killed stays (8 MiB, DR test 2026-11-05)
 		$stale = glob(rtrim($target, '/') . '/.ngb-restore-spool-*', GLOB_ONLYDIR);
 		foreach ($stale === false ? [] : $stale as $dir) {
+			if (is_link($dir)) {
+				continue;
+			}
+			$files = glob($dir . '/*');
+			foreach ($files === false ? [] : $files as $file) {
+				if (is_file($file) && !is_link($file)) {
+					@unlink($file);
+				}
+			}
 			@rmdir($dir);
 		}
 		$plan = new ReadAheadPlan(rtrim($target, '/') . '/.ngb-restore-spool-' . bin2hex(random_bytes(4)));
@@ -260,6 +274,9 @@ final class Repository {
 				if (!self::underPrefix($entry['p'], $prefix)) {
 					continue;
 				}
+				if ($keepUnchanged && self::inPlace(self::destination($target, $entry['p'], $prefix, $stripPrefix), $entry)) {
+					continue;
+				}
 				foreach ($entry['b'] as $id) {
 					try {
 						[$pack, $offset, $length] = $this->index->get($id);
@@ -289,18 +306,19 @@ final class Repository {
 	}
 
 	/** @param array<string, string>|null $skipped see restore() */
-	private function restoreEntries(string $snapshotId, string $target, string $prefix, bool $stripPrefix, ?callable $heartbeat, ?ReadAheadPlan $plan, ?array &$skipped): int {
+	private function restoreEntries(string $snapshotId, string $target, string $prefix, bool $stripPrefix, ?callable $heartbeat, ?ReadAheadPlan $plan, ?array &$skipped, bool $keepUnchanged): int {
 		$count = 0;
 		$cleaned = [];
 		foreach ($this->streamEntries($snapshotId) as $entry) {
 			if (!self::underPrefix($entry['p'], $prefix)) {
 				continue;
 			}
-			$relPath = $entry['p'];
+			$dest = self::destination($target, $entry['p'], $prefix, $stripPrefix);
-			if ($stripPrefix && $prefix !== '') {
+			if ($keepUnchanged && self::inPlace($dest, $entry)) {
-				$relPath = $entry['p'] === rtrim($prefix, '/') ? basename($entry['p']) : substr($entry['p'], strlen($prefix));
+				// below the target as written by an earlier run of this restore (checked then)
+				$count++;
+				continue;
 			}
-			$dest = rtrim($target, '/') . '/' . $relPath;
 			if (!is_dir(dirname($dest))) {
 				mkdir(dirname($dest), 0700, true);
 			}
@@ -358,6 +376,26 @@ final class Repository {
 		return $count;
 	}
 
+	/** Where restore() writes the snapshot path $path. */
+	private static function destination(string $target, string $path, string $prefix, bool $stripPrefix): string {
+		$relPath = $path;
+		if ($stripPrefix && $prefix !== '') {
+			$relPath = $path === rtrim($prefix, '/') ? basename($path) : substr($path, strlen($prefix));
+		}
+		return rtrim($target, '/') . '/' . $relPath;
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * A regular file (no link) at $dest with the size and modification time of the snapshot
+	 * entry: what a backup takes as unchanged, and what a finished restore of it leaves.
+	 *
+	 * @param array{s: int, m: int, ...} $entry
+	 */
+	private static function inPlace(string $dest, array $entry): bool {
+		clearstatcache(true, $dest);
+		return !is_link($dest) && is_file($dest) && filesize($dest) === $entry['s'] && filemtime($dest) === $entry['m'];
+	}
+
 	/** $prefix is "" (everything) or ends with "/"; the path without that "/" is a file to restore too. */
 	private static function underPrefix(string $path, string $prefix): bool {
 		return $prefix === '' || str_starts_with($path, $prefix) || $path === rtrim($prefix, '/');

lib/Service/RestoreFullService.php

@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ final class RestoreFullService {
 			}
 			if ($dbError !== null) {
 				$salvageDir = $dataDir . '/ngb-salvage-' . substr($snapshotId, 0, 12);
-				$dataFiles = $this->restore->restoreToDirectory($target, $snapshotId, 'data', $salvageDir . '/data', stripPrefix: true, heartbeat: $beat, skipped: $skipped);
+				$dataFiles = $this->restore->restoreToDirectory($target, $snapshotId, 'data', $salvageDir . '/data', stripPrefix: true, heartbeat: $beat, skipped: $skipped, keepUnchanged: true);
 				$this->restore->restoreToDirectory($target, $snapshotId, 'config', $salvageDir . '/config', stripPrefix: true, heartbeat: $beat, skipped: $skipped);
 				return ['dbReport' => ['skipped' => [], 'restored' => [], 'created' => [], 'missing' => []], 'dataFiles' => $dataFiles, 'configKeys' => 0,
 					'dbConsistent' => true, 'missingApps' => $check['missingApps'], 'skipped' => $skipped ?? [], 'dbError' => $dbError,
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ final class RestoreFullService {
 				$backupConfig = [];
 			}
 
-			$dataFiles = $this->restore->restoreToDirectory($target, $snapshotId, 'data', $dataDir, stripPrefix: true, heartbeat: $beat, skipped: $skipped);
+			$dataFiles = $this->restore->restoreToDirectory($target, $snapshotId, 'data', $dataDir, stripPrefix: true, heartbeat: $beat, skipped: $skipped, keepUnchanged: true);
 
 			// Last step: nothing after this may need $this->targets->repository($target) again.
 			if ($backupConfig !== []) {

lib/Service/RestoreService.php

@@ -169,15 +169,18 @@ final class RestoreService {
 	 * @param bool $stripPrefix write into $directory itself instead of $directory/$prefix (see
 	 *             Repository::restore()); used to restore "data/" or "config/" straight into the
 	 *             real data/config directory for occ backup:restore:full.
+	 * @param bool $keepUnchanged leave files already in place with the snapshot's size and
+	 *             modification time (see Repository::restore()): a full restore that runs again
+	 *             goes on where it stopped
 	 */
-	public function restoreToDirectory(Target $target, string $snapshotId, string $prefix, string $directory, bool $stripPrefix = false, ?callable $heartbeat = null, ?array &$skipped = null): int {
+	public function restoreToDirectory(Target $target, string $snapshotId, string $prefix, string $directory, bool $stripPrefix = false, ?callable $heartbeat = null, ?array &$skipped = null, bool $keepUnchanged = false): int {
 		if ($prefix !== '' && !Repository::isSafePath($prefix)) {
 			throw new \InvalidArgumentException('Invalid path: ' . $prefix);
 		}
 		if (!is_dir($directory) && !mkdir($directory, 0750, true) && !is_dir($directory)) {
 			throw new \RuntimeException("Cannot create $directory");
 		}
-		return $this->withSharedLock($target, function (callable $refresh) use ($target, $snapshotId, $prefix, $directory, $stripPrefix, $heartbeat, &$skipped): int {
+		return $this->withSharedLock($target, function (callable $refresh) use ($target, $snapshotId, $prefix, $directory, $stripPrefix, $heartbeat, &$skipped, $keepUnchanged): int {
 			$own = LeaseService::throttled($refresh);
 			$beat = static function () use ($own, $heartbeat): void {
 				$own();
@@ -185,7 +188,7 @@ final class RestoreService {
 					$heartbeat();
 				}
 			};
-			return $this->targets->repository($target)->restore($snapshotId, $directory, trim($prefix, '/') === '' ? '' : trim($prefix, '/') . '/', $stripPrefix, $beat, $skipped);
+			return $this->targets->repository($target)->restore($snapshotId, $directory, trim($prefix, '/') === '' ? '' : trim($prefix, '/') . '/', $stripPrefix, $beat, $skipped, $keepUnchanged);
 		}, 3600);
 	}
 

tests/Unit/Repository/ReadAheadTest.php

@@ -75,11 +75,14 @@ class ReadAheadTest extends TestCase {
 		$this->assertSame(2, $backend->snapshotReads, 'the restore itself read the snapshot again');
 	}
 
-	public function testTheEmptySpoolOfAStoppedRestoreIsRemoved(): void {
+	public function testTheSpoolOfAStoppedRestoreIsRemoved(): void {
 		$target = $this->tempDir();
 		mkdir("$target/.ngb-restore-spool-0badc0de", 0700); // a restore that was killed
+		mkdir("$target/.ngb-restore-spool-8badf00d", 0700); // ... while it wrote a range
+		file_put_contents("$target/.ngb-restore-spool-8badf00d/smb-01234567", str_repeat('x', 4096));
 
 		$this->assertRestored($this->restore(new ReadAheadBackend(new LocalBackend($this->root)), '', $target));
+		$this->assertSame([], glob("$target/.ngb-restore-spool-*"));
 	}
 
 	public function testARangeThatCouldNotBeReadAheadIsReadTheUsualWay(): void {

tests/Unit/Repository/RepositoryTest.php

@@ -101,6 +101,34 @@ class RepositoryTest extends TestCase {
 		$this->assertFileExists($stripped . '/note-1.txt');
 	}
 
+	public function testARestoreThatRunsAgainKeepsWhatIsInPlaceAndRestoresTheRest(): void {
+		$location = $this->tempDir();
+		$backend = new LocalBackend($location);
+		$repo = Repository::init($backend, 'pw');
+		$r = $repo->backupDirectory($this->src);
+		$target = $this->tempDir();
+		$repo->restore($r['snapshot'], $target);
+
+		// as a stopped restore leaves it: one file not there yet, one with other content
+		unlink($target . '/docs/d1/note-1.txt');
+		file_put_contents($target . '/docs/d0/note-0.txt', 'something else');
+		$this->assertSame(34, $repo->restore($r['snapshot'], $target, keepUnchanged: true));
+		$this->assertSame(self::hashTree($this->src), self::hashTree($target));
+
+		// all in place: nothing is read from the location, which could not give it anyway now
+		self::removeTree($location . '/packs');
+		$this->assertSame(34, Repository::open($backend, 'pw')->restore($r['snapshot'], $target, keepUnchanged: true));
+		$this->expectException(\Throwable::class);
+		Repository::open($backend, 'pw')->restore($r['snapshot'], $target);
+	}
+
+	private static function removeTree(string $dir): void {
+		foreach (new \RecursiveIteratorIterator(new \RecursiveDirectoryIterator($dir, \FilesystemIterator::SKIP_DOTS), \RecursiveIteratorIterator::CHILD_FIRST) as $f) {
+			$f->isDir() ? rmdir($f->getPathname()) : unlink($f->getPathname());
+		}
+		rmdir($dir);
+	}
+
 	public function testRestoreRemovesTemporariesOfAStoppedRestore(): void {
 		$repo = Repository::init($this->backend, 'pw');
 		$r = $repo->backupDirectory($this->src);

tests/integration/full-restore-roundtrip.sh

@@ -2,8 +2,11 @@
 # Disaster recovery: occ backup:key:import + backup:target:add + backup:restore:full on a
 # SECOND, fresh Nextcloud instance that never saw the first one, sharing only the backup
 # location (a local directory, bind-mounted into both containers) -- see PLAN.md 3.7.
-# Usage: full-restore-roundtrip.sh <nextcloud-image-tag> [sqlite|pgsql|mysql] [legacy|sftp|salvage|to-pgsql|to-mysql|to-sqlite]
+# Usage: full-restore-roundtrip.sh <nextcloud-image-tag> [sqlite|pgsql|mysql] [legacy|sftp|salvage|salvage-files|to-pgsql|to-mysql|to-sqlite]
 #   e.g. full-restore-roundtrip.sh 35-apache pgsql
+# With "salvage-files" one pack is damaged and another is gone from the location. The restore must
+# stop and point at --salvage; run again as the guide says, it restores the database and every file
+# that can be read, and lists the rest (exit 2). NGB_FRT_DATA_MB sets the amount of data (default 200).
 # With "sftp" the location is an SFTP server instead of a shared directory, and the origin has a
 # file spread over several packs: the restore reads them ahead on connections of its own.
 # With "to-<db>" the restore instance runs that database whatever the origin runs (a MySQL or
@@ -36,7 +39,7 @@ cleanup() {
 	docker network rm "$NET" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
 	docker run --rm -v "$SHARED:/target" alpine sh -c 'rm -rf /target/*' >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
 	rmdir "$SHARED" 2>/dev/null || true
-	rm -f /tmp/ngb-frt-kit.json /tmp/ngb-frt-pass
+	rm -f /tmp/ngb-frt-kit.json /tmp/ngb-frt-pass /tmp/ngb-frt-sums
 	[ -n "${LEGACY_DIR:-}" ] && rm -rf "$LEGACY_DIR"
 	return 0
 }
@@ -105,6 +108,17 @@ if [ "$MODE" = sftp ]; then
 	docker exec ngb-frt-origin sh -c "head -c 90000000 /dev/urandom > /var/www/html/data/frtest/files/Docs/large.bin && chown www-data:www-data /var/www/html/data/frtest/files/Docs/large.bin"
 	LARGE_SUM=$(docker exec ngb-frt-origin sha256sum /var/www/html/data/frtest/files/Docs/large.bin | cut -d' ' -f1)
 fi
+if [ "$MODE" = salvage-files ]; then
+	# Half in large files that fill packs of their own, half in files of 1 MiB; incompressible
+	DATA_MB=${NGB_FRT_DATA_MB:-200}
+	docker exec -e DATA_MB="$DATA_MB" ngb-frt-origin sh -c '
+		cd /var/www/html/data/frtest/files && mkdir -p Large Small/a Small/b
+		i=0; while [ $((i * 50)) -lt $((DATA_MB / 2)) ]; do head -c 52428800 /dev/urandom > Large/f$i.bin; i=$((i + 1)); done
+		i=0; while [ $i -lt $((DATA_MB / 2)) ]; do head -c 1048576 /dev/urandom > Small/$([ $((i % 2)) = 0 ] && echo a || echo b)/f$i.bin; i=$((i + 1)); done
+		chown -R www-data:www-data . && find . -type f -print0 | xargs -0 sha256sum > /tmp/frt-sums'
+	docker cp ngb-frt-origin:/tmp/frt-sums /tmp/ngb-frt-sums
+	ok "origin has $DATA_MB MiB of test data, $(wc -l < /tmp/ngb-frt-sums) files"
+fi
 run_on ngb-frt-origin files:scan frtest >/dev/null
 
 # SQL on an instance's own database (pgsql/mysql only)
@@ -143,6 +157,18 @@ if [ "$MODE" = salvage ]; then
 		|| fail "damage the database dump"
 	ok "database dump of the snapshot damaged on the location"
 fi
+if [ "$MODE" = salvage-files ]; then
+	# The two largest packs hold user files for sure: bytes flipped in one, the other gone
+	docker exec -u www-data ngb-frt-origin php -r '
+		$packs = glob("/mnt/shared/repo/packs/*/*");
+		usort($packs, fn ($a, $b) => filesize($b) <=> filesize($a));
+		count($packs) >= 3 or exit(1);
+		$h = fopen($packs[0], "r+b");
+		for ($o = 4096; $o < filesize($packs[0]); $o += 1048576) { fseek($h, $o); $b = fread($h, 16); fseek($h, $o); fwrite($h, ~$b); }
+		fclose($h);
+		unlink($packs[1]);' || fail "damage the packs"
+	ok "one pack damaged and one pack gone on the location"
+fi
 
 docker cp ngb-frt-origin:/tmp/kit.json /tmp/ngb-frt-kit.json
 docker exec ngb-frt-origin sh -c "cat /tmp/pass" > /tmp/ngb-frt-pass
@@ -196,6 +222,58 @@ if [ "$MODE" = salvage ]; then
 	exit 0
 fi
 
+if [ "$MODE" = salvage-files ]; then
+	set +e
+	OUT=$(run_on ngb-frt-restore backup:restore:full offsite "$SNAP" --no-interaction 2>&1); CODE=$?
+	set -e
+	[ "$CODE" = 1 ] || { printf '%s\n' "$OUT" | tail -20; fail "a restore with damaged data did not stop (exit $CODE)"; }
+	printf '%s\n' "$OUT" | grep -- "--salvage" >/dev/null || { printf '%s\n' "$OUT" | tail -20; fail "the stopped restore does not point at --salvage"; }
+	run_on ngb-frt-restore status 2>&1 | grep "maintenance: true" >/dev/null || fail "maintenance mode is off after a restore that stopped halfway"
+	ok "damaged data: the restore stops, keeps maintenance mode on and points at --salvage"
+
+	# As the guide and the message say: maintenance mode off and again, now with --salvage
+	run_on ngb-frt-restore maintenance:mode --off >/dev/null || fail "maintenance mode off"
+	set +e
+	OUT=$(run_on ngb-frt-restore backup:restore:full offsite "$SNAP" --no-interaction --salvage --force 2>&1); CODE=$?
+	set -e
+	[ "$CODE" = 2 ] || { printf '%s\n' "$OUT" | tail -30; fail "restore:full --salvage exited with $CODE, not 2"; }
+	printf '%s\n' "$OUT" | grep "could not be restored" >/dev/null || { printf '%s\n' "$OUT" | tail -30; fail "the damaged files are not listed"; }
+	printf '%s\n' "$OUT" | grep "ngb-salvage-" >/dev/null && { printf '%s\n' "$OUT" | tail -30; fail "the database was given up, only files are damaged"; }
+	docker cp /tmp/ngb-frt-sums ngb-frt-restore:/tmp/frt-sums
+	printf '%s\n' "$OUT" | docker exec -i ngb-frt-restore sh -c 'cat > /tmp/frt-out'
+	# Every file: listed and not there, or there and bit-identical
+	CHECK=$(docker exec ngb-frt-restore php -r '
+		$root = "/var/www/html/data/frtest/files/"; $listed = []; $reasons = [];
+		foreach (file("/tmp/frt-out", FILE_IGNORE_NEW_LINES) as $l) {
+			if (preg_match("#^  (?:data/)?frtest/files/(.+?): (.*)$#", $l, $m)) { $listed[$m[1]] = true; $reasons[] = $m[2]; }
+		}
+		$same = 0; $gone = 0; $bad = [];
+		foreach (file("/tmp/frt-sums", FILE_IGNORE_NEW_LINES) as $l) {
+			[$sum, $p] = preg_split("/\s+/", $l, 2); $p = substr($p, 2);
+			if (isset($listed[$p])) { file_exists($root . $p) ? $bad[] = "listed but there: $p" : $gone++; continue; }
+			if (!file_exists($root . $p)) { $bad[] = "not listed and not there: $p"; continue; }
+			hash_file("sha256", $root . $p) === $sum ? $same++ : $bad[] = "different: $p";
+		}
+		$temps = glob($root . "*/*.ngb-restore-*") ?: [];
+		foreach ($temps as $t) { $bad[] = "temporary left: $t"; }
+		echo "same=$same gone=$gone bad=", count($bad), "\n", implode("\n", array_slice($bad, 0, 10)), "\n";
+		echo "reasons: ", implode(" | ", array_unique(array_map(fn ($r) => substr(preg_replace("#[0-9a-f]{16,}#", "<id>", $r), 0, 70), $reasons))), "\n";')
+	printf '%s\n' "$CHECK"
+	printf '%s\n' "$CHECK" | grep -q " bad=0" || fail "files after the salvage are not as listed"
+	printf '%s\n' "$CHECK" | grep -qE "same=[1-9]" || fail "nothing was restored"
+	printf '%s\n' "$CHECK" | grep -qE "gone=[1-9]" || fail "no user file was hit by the damage"
+	ok "with --salvage: every file listed and absent, or there and identical"
+	run_on ngb-frt-restore status 2>&1 | grep "maintenance: false" >/dev/null || fail "maintenance mode is still on after the salvage"
+	run_on ngb-frt-restore user:list | grep frtest >/dev/null || fail "the backed-up user is missing: the database was not restored"
+	[ "$(docker exec ngb-frt-restore cat /var/www/html/data/frtest/files/Docs/note.txt 2>/dev/null)" = "hello disaster recovery" ] \
+		|| printf '%s\n' "$OUT" | grep "Docs/note.txt" >/dev/null || fail "note.txt is neither restored nor listed"
+	run_on ngb-frt-restore backup:status >/dev/null || fail "backup:status fails after the salvage"
+	run_on ngb-frt-restore files:scan frtest >/dev/null || fail "files:scan fails after the salvage"
+	ok "the database and config are the old server's, the instance works"
+	echo "FULL RESTORE ROUNDTRIP PASS ($DB, salvage-files)"
+	exit 0
+fi
+
 RESTORE_OPTS=(--no-interaction --install-apps)
 if [ "$LEGACY" = legacy ] && [ "$DB" != sqlite ]; then
 	# Without --skip-missing-tables an older backup must be refused, naming the app's tables