# Better way to backup an ipfs node

**URL:** <https://discuss.ipfs.tech/t/better-way-to-backup-an-ipfs-node/1476>\
**Category:** Help\
**Created:** [November 20, 2017, 4:39am UTC](https://discuss.ipfs.tech/t/better-way-to-backup-an-ipfs-node/1476 "2017-11-20T04:39:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![michaelcheung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@michaelcheung](https://discuss.ipfs.tech/u/michaelcheung)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2017, 4:39am UTC](https://discuss.ipfs.tech/t/better-way-to-backup-an-ipfs-node/1476/1 "2017-11-20T04:39:45Z")

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Hi,

I am copying contents from an operating IPFS node to a new one - to get all the pinned files from old one and pin at the new one.

I added the multiaddr of old node to new IPFS node’s bootstrap list, then start it.  
`ipfs bootstrap add <addr>`  
Next I get the list of pinned files in old node.  
`ipfs pin ls -q`  
Then in new node, a script running multiple `ipfs pin add <hash>` where hash is from the above list.

I wonder if there is a fast dump and re-import way to the above task. Does anyone has an idea?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![stebalien](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/discuss.ipfs.tech/stebalien/32/156_2.png) [@stebalien](https://discuss.ipfs.tech/u/stebalien)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2017, 9:53pm UTC](https://discuss.ipfs.tech/t/better-way-to-backup-an-ipfs-node/1476/2 "2017-11-20T21:53:12Z")

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The dead-simple way is to copy the entire repo over and then run a GC to delete everything not pinned. Other than that, copying via bitswap is really the only other option at the moment.