PN Web OS Backup & Restore: Complete User Guide

1. Why You Need Backups

Common Data Loss Scenarios

• Clearing Browser Data: Accidentally clicking "Clear browsing data" wipes everything
• Browser Updates: Rare but possible data corruption during updates
• Switching Devices: Your data doesn't follow you to a new computer
• Operating System Reinstall: Complete data loss when reinstalling OS
• Computer Theft/Loss: Hardware loss means data loss
• Hard Drive Failure: Physical drive failure destroys local data

What You Can Lose

• All your files and documents
• Folder organization and structure
• Account settings and preferences
• Application configurations
• Command history
• Everything you've created in PN Web OS

Bottom line: If you value your data, you MUST create regular backups.

2. How the Backup System Works

Overview

PN Web OS uses a KeePass-style encrypted backup system. Your entire workspace—files, settings, account data—is encrypted using military-grade encryption and exported as a single text file that you can store anywhere.

What's Included in Backups

Backup File Format

• Format: Plain text file (.txt)
• Naming: pn-webos-backup-{ username}-{ date}. txt
• Size: Approximately 110-130% of your actual data size
• Encryption: AES-256-GCM with PBKDF2-SHA256 key derivation
• Portability: Works across all browsers and operating systems

3. Creating a Backup

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Open Settings App

   Click the Settings icon (⚙️) in your taskbar or application menu

2. Navigate to Data Management

   Click on "Data Management" in the left sidebar

3. Click Export Encrypted Backup

   Find the "Export Encrypted Backup" button (⬇️ download icon)

4. Enter Your Password

   Enter your PN Web OS account password (used for encryption)

5. Click Export Backup

   Click the button to start the export process

6. Wait for Processing

   Depending on data size, this takes 1-60 seconds

7. Save the File

   Your browser will prompt you to save the .txt file—choose a safe location

8. Verify File Size

   Check that the backup file size matches expectations (see sizing guide below)

Backup File Sizing Guide

4. Restoring a Backup

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Open Settings App

   Click the Settings icon (⚙️) in your taskbar

2. Navigate to Data Management

   Click on "Data Management" in the left sidebar

3. Click Import Backup

   Find the "Import Backup" button (⬆️ upload icon)

4. Select Your Backup File

   Browse to your backup .txt file and select it

5. Enter Password or Recovery Phrase

   Enter the password you used when creating the backup (or your 12-word recovery phrase)

6. Click Import Backup

   Click the button to start the import process

7. Wait for Completion

   Import takes longer than export—be patient, especially with large backups

8. Log Back In

   After import completes, you may need to log back into your account

9. Verify Your Data

   Check that all your files, folders, and settings are restored correctly

Import Time Estimates

5. Best Practices

Backup Frequency Recommendations

The 3-2-1 Backup Rule

• 3 copies: Keep 3 total copies of your data (1 original + 2 backups)
• 2 different media types: Store on 2 different types (e.g., USB drive + cloud storage)
• 1 off-site copy: Keep at least 1 backup off-site (e.g., cloud storage)

Recommended Storage Locations

Backup Naming Convention

Use descriptive names that include:

• Date (YYYY-MM-DD format)
• Purpose or milestone
• Version if multiple per day

Examples:

• pn-backup-2025-11-01-before-project-alpha.txt
• pn-backup-2025-11-01-quarterly-q4.txt
• pn-backup-2025-11-01-before-upgrade.txt

Version Control Strategy

• Daily backups: Keep for 1 week
• Weekly backups: Keep for 1 month
• Monthly backups: Keep for 1 year
• Major milestone backups: Keep indefinitely

6. Security & Privacy

Encryption Specifications

Cloud Storage Safety

Yes, it's safe to store your encrypted backups in cloud storage! Because your backups are fully encrypted with strong encryption, they're safe to store anywhere:

• Dropbox
• Google Drive
• OneDrive
• iCloud Drive
• Any file hosting service

Even if the cloud provider is breached, your data remains secure. Without your password, the backup is just encrypted gibberish.

Password Recovery Options

7. Common Usage Scenarios

Scenario 1: Creating Your First Backup

1. Open Settings → Data Management
2. Click "Export Encrypted Backup"
3. Enter your password
4. Save to USB drive AND upload to cloud storage
5. Verify file size is correct (~1.2× your data size)
6. Add calendar reminder for next backup

Scenario 2: Moving to a New Computer

On old computer:

1. Create fresh backup
2. Save to USB drive or cloud storage

On new computer:

1. Open www.pn.com/webos
2. Go to Settings → Data Management
3. Click "Import Backup"
4. Select your backup file
5. Enter password
6. Wait for import to complete
7. Everything restored!

Scenario 3: Recovering from Browser Data Clear

1. Realize you accidentally cleared browser data
2. Don't panic—you have a backup!
3. Open fresh PN Web OS
4. Go to Settings → Data Management
5. Import your most recent backup
6. Only lost changes since last backup

8. Technical Specifications

Browser Compatibility

Performance Metrics

• Export speed: ~1-50 MB/second (depends on computer)
• Import speed: ~0.5-10 MB/second (slower due to decryption)
• Encryption overhead: ~10-30% file size increase
• Memory usage: ~2× backup size during import/export

File Structure (Encrypted)

Inside the backup file (before encryption):

• Metadata section: Encryption parameters, salts, IVs
• Account data: Username, settings, preferences
• File system: Complete folder structure
• File contents: All file data (base64 encoded)
• Command history: Recent terminal commands
• App data: Application-specific settings