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Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
@@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
---
meta:
title: How to rescue and recover your data using rescue mode on Elastic Metal
description: Learn how to recover and download backups of your data from a Scaleway Elastic Metal server using rescue mode with SFTP
content:
h1: How to rescue and recover your data using rescue mode
paragraph: Learn how to recover and download backups of your data from a Scaleway Elastic Metal server using rescue mode with SFTP.
tags: recovery rescue data rescue-mode
dates:
validation: 2025-04-01
posted: 2025-04-01
categories:
- elastic-metal-serrs
---

If your server encounters issues but does not have a hardware failure, you can still recover your data using rescue mode, regardless of whether you are using Windows or Linux.

<Macro id="requirements" />

- A Scaleway account logged into the [console](https://console.scaleway.com)
- A [created](/elastic-metal/how-to/create-server/) and [installed](/elastic-metal/how-to/install-server/) Elastic Metal server

## Booting into rescue mode

1. Follow [these instructions](/elastic-metal/how-to/use-rescue-mode/) to start your server in rescue mode (emergency system) via the Scaleway console.
2. Log into your server using one of the following methods:
- [PuTTY](http://the.earth.li/~sgtatham/putty/latest/x86/putty.exe) on [Windows](/elastic-metal/how-to/connect-to-server/#how-to-connect-to-an-elastic-metal-server-from-windows)
- `ssh` from a terminal on [Linux or macOS](/elastic-metal/how-to/connect-to-server/#how-to-connect-to-an-elastic-metal-server-from-osx-mac-and-linux).

<Message type="tip">
The rescue mode credentials (username and password) are displayed in your Scaleway console.
</Message>

## Gaining root access

By default, you are logged in as a regular user in rescue mode and may not have permission to execute all necessary commands.

1. Switch to the `root` account by typing the following command and pressing Enter:
```bash
sudo su
```
2. Enter the rescue user password displayed in the Scaleway console and press Enter.

<Message type="tip">
For security reasons, the password will not be visible when typing.
</Message>

## Mounting partitions

To access your data, you need to mount your server’s partitions in rescue mode. If this step succeeds, you can likely recover your files.

1. As the `root` user, run the following command to mount all partitions:
```bash
mountall.sh
```
The partitions will be mounted in the `/mnt` directory.

<Message type="note">
You may encounter errors such as `swap cannot be mounted` or `many partitions do not exist`. These can be safely ignored.
</Message>

## Recovering your data

You can recover your data by downloading it directly to your local computer via SFTP.

<Message type="important">
Exercise caution when editing your data in rescue mode. The `root` user has full permissions, including the ability to irreversibly delete files.
</Message>

### Backing up data to your personal computer (via SFTP)

You can use an SFTP client like [FileZilla](https://filezilla-project.org/) to download data from your server.

1. Open FileZilla and fill in the following details:
- **Host**: Your server’s IP address
- **Username**: Rescue mode username (e.g., `em-XXXX`)
- **Password**: Rescue mode password
- **Port**: 22

<Message type="tip">
These details are available in your console once rescue mode is active.
</Message>

#### Example configuration

<Lightbox src="sftp.webp" />

Your data will be located in the `/mnt`, `/sda1`, or `/sda` directories. You can download it before reinstalling the server or transferring data to another server.

<Message type="tip">
If you encounter difficulties, consider contacting a [certified outsourcer](https://www.scaleway.com/en/dedibox/outsourcing/) for professional data recovery.
</Message>
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ You are unable to connect to your Scaleway Elastic Metal server via SSH.
- Incorrect SSH credentials or key configuration.
- The server is in rescue mode and requires a different login method.
- A recent security policy change has disabled SSH access.
- You recently change your SSH keys and it hasn't be added to Elastic Metal system

## Solution

Expand All @@ -54,4 +55,9 @@ You are unable to connect to your Scaleway Elastic Metal server via SSH.
#### Verify the SSH service status
- Use the remote console from the Scaleway dashboard to access your server.
- Run `systemctl status ssh` to check if the SSH service is running.
- If the service is stopped, restart it using `systemctl restart ssh`.
- If the service is stopped, restart it using `systemctl restart ssh`.

#### Add the new SSH key to the existent system
- Reboot in rescue mode as explain in this [documentation](/elastic-metal/how-to/use-rescue-mode/)
- Mount filesystem in rescue mode to access data and files by folowing these [steps](/elastic-metal/troubleshooting/troubleshoot-rescue-your-data/##mounting-partitions)
- Modify the "authorized_keys" file to add your new SSH public key at the end