# I can't restore a backup from NodeChef
**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/i-cant-restore-a-backup-from-nodechef/113175
**Category:** Support
**Tags:** unsupported-install
**Created:** [April 1, 2019, 12:07pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/i-cant-restore-a-backup-from-nodechef/113175 "2019-04-01T12:07:26Z")
**Posts on this page:** 13
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@GeertClaes](https://meta.discourse.org/u/GeertClaes)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2019, 12:07pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/i-cant-restore-a-backup-from-nodechef/113175/1 "2019-04-01T12:07:26Z")
I am in the process of moving our Discourse pilot from the (I know unsupported) NodeChef to a VPS on OVH. I created a backup on NodeChef and wanted to restore this backup on the fresh Discourse install on OVH. Now, the upload of the back worked fine, but the Restore button remains greyed out?
I have no control over the version on NodeChef (which is at the time of the backup was 2.3.0 beta3 +115) and the new install on the VPS is 2.3.0 beta6 +70. Can I get this backup restored?
---
### Author:  [@pfaffman](https://meta.discourse.org/u/pfaffman)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2019, 12:10pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/i-cant-restore-a-backup-from-nodechef/113175/2 "2019-04-01T12:10:58Z")
You need to turn on the `enable restore `site setting. From command line inside the container
```
discourse enable_restore
```
But you can just search site settings for ‘enable restore’
---
### Author:  [@GeertClaes](https://meta.discourse.org/u/GeertClaes)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2019, 12:17pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/i-cant-restore-a-backup-from-nodechef/113175/3 "2019-04-01T12:17:31Z")
Thanks @pfaffman, that enabled the Restore button!
… it started ok but then ran into error and it rolled back the restore.
```
[2019-04-01 12:14:31] ERROR: relation "public.spatial_ref_sys" does not exist
[2019-04-01 12:14:31] invalid command \.
[2019-04-01 12:14:31] ERROR: current transaction is aborted, commands ignored until end of transaction block
[2019-04-01 12:14:31] ERROR: syntax error at or near "1"
[2019-04-01 12:14:31] LINE 1: 1 desktop 1dc8d521c04153d9db5348f3d45c749ec69c7dac /*! norm...
[2019-04-01 12:14:31] ^
[2019-04-01 12:14:31] ERROR: syntax error at or near "-"
[2019-04-01 12:14:31] LINE 1: -ms-text-size-adjust:100%;
[2019-04-01 12:14:31] ^
[2019-04-01 12:14:31] ERROR: syntax error at or near "-"
[2019-04-01 12:14:31] LINE 1: -webkit-text-size-adjust:100%}body{margin:0}article,aside,de...
[2019-04-01 12:14:31] ^
[2019-04-01 12:14:31] ERROR: syntax error at or near "vertical"
[2019-04-01 12:14:31] LINE 1: vertical-align:baseline}audio:not([controls]){display:none;
[2019-04-01 12:14:31] ^
[2019-04-01 12:14:31] ERROR: syntax error at or near "height"
[2019-04-01 12:14:31] LINE 1: height:0}[hidden],template{display:none}a{background:transpa...
[2019-04-01 12:14:31] ^
```
…
---
### Author:  [@Krischan](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Krischan)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2019, 12:35pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/i-cant-restore-a-backup-from-nodechef/113175/4 "2019-04-01T12:35:05Z")
Are plugins, themes and components and all settings connected to these part of the backup as well?
---
### Author:  [@GeertClaes](https://meta.discourse.org/u/GeertClaes)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2019, 12:51pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/i-cant-restore-a-backup-from-nodechef/113175/5 "2019-04-01T12:51:41Z")
From my understanding not plugins (nor components) … I am looking/hoping for content.
EDIT: your themes can be exported and imported via the themes settings
---
### Author:  [@GeertClaes](https://meta.discourse.org/u/GeertClaes)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2019, 1:25pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/i-cant-restore-a-backup-from-nodechef/113175/6 "2019-04-01T13:25:01Z")
I have now installed the plugins which were enabled on the NodeChef install as well as imported the Themes I tested. The restore is still giving me errors and it always rolls back. Is there any way around these errors?
---
### Author:  [@pfaffman](https://meta.discourse.org/u/pfaffman)
#### Post date: [April 2, 2019, 3:57pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/i-cant-restore-a-backup-from-nodechef/113175/7 "2019-04-02T15:57:38Z")
That looks like a Postgres version issue, but it’s surprising with the Discourse versions being so close. Do you have a way to see what version of PG was on the server?
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### Author:  [@RGJ](https://meta.discourse.org/u/RGJ)
#### Post date: [April 2, 2019, 4:12pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/i-cant-restore-a-backup-from-nodechef/113175/8 "2019-04-02T16:12:00Z")
That’s a PostGIS table… apparently NodeChef has some spatial stuff installed.
You will need to fix your backup or maybe it will work if you run something like `echo "CREATE EXTENSION postgis;" | psql` in your container.
---
### Author:  [@RGJ](https://meta.discourse.org/u/RGJ)
#### Post date: [April 2, 2019, 8:17pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/i-cant-restore-a-backup-from-nodechef/113175/9 "2019-04-02T20:17:20Z")
> [@pfaffman](#):
>
> but it’s surprising with the Discourse versions being so close.
Those are two distinct things especially on non-standard installs.
> [@pfaffman](#):
>
> Do you have a way to see what version of PG was on the server?
The first line of the `.sql` file within your backup archive tells you which version it was made with.
---
### Author:  [@pfaffman](https://meta.discourse.org/u/pfaffman)
#### Post date: [April 2, 2019, 8:29pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/i-cant-restore-a-backup-from-nodechef/113175/10 "2019-04-02T20:29:16Z")
> [@RGJ](#):
>
> Those are two distinct things especially on non-standard installs.
>
>  pfaffman:
True enough, and as it turns out, it had nothing to do with versions of anything!
> [@RGJ](#):
>
> The first line of the `.sql` file within your backup archive tells you which version it was made with.
Doh! I guess I’d have noticed that if I’d looked at the file, but don’t look often enough to remember. I always appreciate your Postgres know-how.
Who’d have guessed that NodeChef would add stuff to the database? I guess my solution would have been to edit out that stuff from the SQL file.
---
### Author:  [@RGJ](https://meta.discourse.org/u/RGJ)
#### Post date: [April 2, 2019, 9:59pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/i-cant-restore-a-backup-from-nodechef/113175/11 "2019-04-02T21:59:50Z")
> [@pfaffman](#):
>
> I guess my solution would have been to edit out that stuff from the SQL file.
Yeah, totally agree… but I would not recommend that without seeing the SQL file first so my first bet was to just see if installing postgis extensions would work - although that’s more like postponing the actual problem.
---
### Author:  [@GeertClaes](https://meta.discourse.org/u/GeertClaes)
#### Post date: [April 3, 2019, 1:51pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/i-cant-restore-a-backup-from-nodechef/113175/12 "2019-04-03T13:51:27Z")
Thanks for the help guys but I have abandoned the restore and I am happy I no longer have to deal with the restrictions of NodeChef
---
### Author:  [@system](https://meta.discourse.org/u/system)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2019, 1:51pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/i-cant-restore-a-backup-from-nodechef/113175/13 "2019-05-03T13:51:31Z")
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