• This how-to describes the method for performing OpenWrt file-level backup/restore.
• Follow Preserving configuration to determine whether to keep the settings.
• Follow Firmware upgrade to identify manually installed packages.
• Follow Generic backup for block-level backup/restore.

• Provide an easy way to restore OpenWrt to the previous configuration state.

Customize your backup configuration.

1. Navigate to LuCI → System → Backup / Flash Firmware → Configuration.
2. Add/remove files/directories and click Submit when done editing.
3. Click Open list… button to view the list files for backup.

Make sure the list contains all the files you want to save.

Back up OpenWrt configuration to local PC.

1. Navigate to LuCI → System → Backup / Flash Firmware → Actions: Backup.
2. Click Generate archive button to download the archive.

Restore previously saved OpenWrt configuration from local PC.

1. Navigate to LuCI → System → Backup / Flash Firmware → Actions: Restore.
2. Click Choose File button to select the archive.
3. Click Upload archive… button to upload the archive.

OpenWrt provides sysupgrade utility for file-level backup/restore.

Customize and verify your backup configuration.

# Add files/directories
cat << EOF >> /etc/sysupgrade.conf
/etc/sudoers
/etc/sudoers.d/
EOF
 
# Edit backup configuration
vi /etc/sysupgrade.conf
 
# Verify backup configuration
sysupgrade -l

Back up OpenWrt configuration to local PC.

# Generate backup
umask go=
sysupgrade -b /tmp/backup-${HOSTNAME}-$(date +%F).tar.gz
ls /tmp/backup-*.tar.gz
 
# Download backup
scp root@openwrt.lan:/tmp/backup-*.tar.gz .

Restore previously saved OpenWrt configuration from local PC.

# Upload backup
scp backup-*.tar.gz root@openwrt.lan:/tmp
 
# Restore backup
ls /tmp/backup-*.tar.gz
sysupgrade -r /tmp/backup-*.tar.gz