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Alex Stoyanov edited this page Mar 2, 2026 · 7 revisions

FAQ

What does stability mean?

Ethernity backups/recovery artifacts follow the baseline contract in the format docs and are expected to remain backward compatible across future stable releases.

In plain terms: backups you create now should keep working across future stable updates.

Do I need the recovery kit?

Not always. The primary recovery path is through CLI decode/recover using scan or fallback inputs. The browser recovery kit is an optional helper, especially useful in constrained environments.

What is rescue mode?

Rescue mode is an explicit bypass path for recovery when normal trust checks cannot be satisfied. Use it only with strong operator controls and clear incident context.

If you do not know whether you need it, you probably do not.

Why are there multiple PDF artifacts?

Each artifact serves a different purpose:

  • qr_document.pdf: primary QR scan source
  • recovery_document.pdf: fallback text and metadata path
  • optional shard docs: threshold-based passphrase recovery
  • optional signing-key-shard docs: threshold-based signing key recovery

How often should I run recovery drills?

At minimum:

  • once after each workflow/policy change
  • periodically on a fixed schedule (for example quarterly)
  • after major software upgrades before switching production workflows

If your data is very important, drill more often.

Can I recover from fallback text only?

Yes. Use --fallback-file (or stdin fallback input) and provide shard/auth inputs when required by the selected backup mode.

What does "verified" mean in recovery output?

It means cryptographic checks passed for the provided artifact set. For high-assurance environments, pair verification with external trust controls and documented custody workflows.

Simple version: "verified" means the set is internally consistent. It does not automatically mean your external trust policy is satisfied.

Which template designs are officially supported?

Canonical design names are:

  • archive
  • forge
  • ledger
  • maritime
  • sentinel

Why does recovery fail with "No such option"?

Flags evolve over time. Always check the command-specific help on your installed version:

ethernity recover --help

How do I verify release binaries?

Use Sigstore bundle verification with the .sigstore.json sidecar from the same release tag. See Release Artifacts for the full workflow.

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