Transfer State Manually
Use manual transfer when you need to inspect or move specific state files. OpenShell preserves the native home/workspace during routine lifecycle operations, and NemoClaw transfers the complete tree during rebuild. Use manual transfer for an independent backup or a targeted cross-sandbox move.
Download State
Use nemoclaw <name> download to copy files from the sandbox to your host.
The wrapper rejects a directory that contains a symbolic link or another special file before it invokes the OpenShell download or creates the host destination.
OpenClaw creates MEMORY.md and memory/ only after it stores memory.
Run each applicable command only when that sandbox path exists:
The same directory also holds POLICY.md. NemoClaw writes that file during the onboarding policy step and refreshes it when you add or remove a network-policy preset.
Download it for reference only, and do not upload a saved copy. See Explain Network Policy to Agents.
Upload State
Use nemoclaw <name> upload to copy files from the host into a sandbox.
Upload each optional memory path only when the backup contains it:
Use the Source-Tree Backup Helper
The scripts/backup-workspace.sh helper exists only in the NemoClaw source repository for engineering workflows.
It is not installed by the standard installer. Host installs can use nemoclaw backup-all for the installer safety backup, or nemoclaw <name> download for an independent file copy.
Run the contributor setup from the NemoClaw source repository root before you create a backup:
The helper checks that the built NemoClaw CLI can start before it creates a backup.
Back up a workspace:
The helper requires SOUL.md, USER.md, IDENTITY.md, AGENTS.md, TOOLS.md, and HEARTBEAT.md.
It skips MEMORY.md and memory/ when those optional paths do not exist.
It does not back up POLICY.md.
A backup contains six to eight items, depending on which optional paths exist.
Both optional paths exist in this example.
Expected output:
If a required file cannot download, the helper deletes the new timestamped backup and exits. The helper also deletes the backup when an optional path exists but cannot download. Check the reported sandbox path for a symbolic link, unsupported file type, or transfer failure. Correct the path, then run the same backup command again.
Restore the most recent backup or a specific timestamp:
Verify the saved files:
Both optional paths exist in this example.
Expected output:
Related Topics
- Understand Sandbox State for agent-specific paths and persistence rules.
- Persist Sandbox State for OpenShell persistence and whole-home rebuild transfer.
- CLI Selection Guide for NemoClaw and OpenShell command boundaries.