# Backup And Recover Your validator We made it simple and straight forward to recover a node with its validators when your old validator doesn't work anymore or you want to transfer everything to a new machine. ## The keystore The keystore consists the following 4 values: * **ValidatorMnemonic** - the seed for your validator keys * **WithdrawalMnemonic** - which is needed to withdraw your stakes * **KeystoreIndexFrom** and **KeyStoreIndexTo** - the key positions that you chose to create a keystore with x amount of validator keys. If you backup those 4 values and store them safely you can always recover your validator setup. ## Keystore backup First we explain how to backup and transfer the keystore files to another machine. The LUKSO CLI offers 2 commands to make a backup and recover this backup on a new machine. First we explain the backup command: ```bash lukso network validator backup ``` This will produce a file named: **"node_recovery.json"** with the 4 values of the keystore. Make a backup of your validator keystore with this command after you have succesfully setup your node and validators on your machine. Store this file somewhere safe and offline. ## Keystore recovery You always start on your new machine with installing the CLI and initializing the network before you can recover your old validators: ```bash sudo curl https://raw.githubusercontent.com/lukso-network/lukso-cli/main/install.sh | sudo bash ``` ```bash lukso network init --chain l16 ``` ### Recover you validator with the backup file ```bash echo CONTENT_OF_RECOVERY_JSON_FILE > node_recovery.json ``` ```bash lukso network validator recover --recoveryFile ./node_recovery.json ``` **OR** Tranfer **node_recovery.json** from the place where you stored it to your machine and add it to your path in the `lukso network validator recover` command: Example: ``` lukso network validator recover --recoveryFile /home/USER/lukso-node/node_recovery.json ``` Change **USER** to the username of your account. This will recreate your setup and recover your validator. :::danger NOTE * The recovery command will only work if you did **not** used the `lukso network validator setup` command before. So it should happen immediatelly after you initialized the node with `lukso network init --chain l16`. * **NEVER** run the 2 nodes at the same time - you will get slashed. Make sure that you **stopped** your existing node before you install and recover your new node. Make also sure that your old Docker containers and images are deleted. :::