Channels DVR Server Restore/Backup Issues

Channels DVR Server
#1

I need to upgrade my Channels DVR server because my hardware was no longer supported and I was running out of external data storage. I created a manual database backup before shutting down the old server then using the new hardware transferred the DVR directory from the original external drive to the new external drive. Once the data transfer was complete I installed Channels DVR server on the new hardware and selected the restore option. At first when I selected the database directory on the new drive it was grayed out and I couldn't select a database to restore from. After searching the forum I found the solution to delete all the backups in the database directory and then copy over the latest database directory. That worked and allowed me to select a backup to restore from but it indicated that there was 0 Recordings and 0 Passes. I then copy over an older backup and reopen the database directory and it also reported 0 Recordings and 0 Passes.

I then copied the oldest backup and got the same results. Next, I powered on the original server and storage drive and verified the Channels DVR server booted and the web interface reported correctly the number of records, passes and settings. I created another manual backup and manually copied the new backup folder to a USB and then transferred it to the database folder on the new store drive. I restarted the restore process on the new server and selected the new backup and it also reported 0 Recordings and 0 Passes.

It seems that the backups being created on the original server are not working. Is there another method I can use to create a database backup of the server besides doing a manual backup? Are there any logs I can check that could be cause the backups to fail?

#2

After doing the restore, verify and correct the Storage Path. It's found at the bottom of the General Settings Page.

#3

I haven't completed the restore yet because it always reports that the backup contains 0 Recordings and 0 Passes. What happens if I select a backup with 0 Recordings and 0 Passes and do a restore, will it delete all the recordings on the storage drive?

#4

A backup should not delete.

#5

Is it possible to perform a database backup but have the backup store to different location?

#6

Not a choice that Channels DVR offers.

You can copy the two database files yourself.
They're in the Channels DVR data directory
data/recorder.db
data/settings.db

If you don't know where that directory is, check the DVR log for when it starts up.
There will be a line showing that directory.

2026/04/23 17:06:43.753890 [SYS] Starting Channels DVR v2026.04.23.0705 (linux-x86_64 pid:7) in /channels-dvr/data
1 Like
#7

Thanks, that worked and I was able to restore my Channels DVR server with all my Recordings and Passes by creating a backup folder containing a copy of the recorder.db and settings.db files from the data directory from my original CDVR server.

#8

Glad to hear it worked for you.

#9