Files and Bundles

Check the bundle type before using a file for installation or recovery. Bundles are not interchangeable.

Full recovery combines compatible Management, matching release content, artifacts with private keys and a completed full backup. Retain these outside the systems being recovered.

Figure 1. Retain all required inputs for full appliance recovery.

Material	Purpose	Where it is used
Management ISO	Boots the Management host and its embedded Management application. It remains attached to the Management VM.	Deploy Management.
Management container image	Runs Management with Docker or Podman on an operator-maintained host. Its image archive does not contain your initialized state.	Container deployment, including Compose.
Release bundle	Installs one specific appliance release and supplies that release’s installation content.	Fresh installation and recovery of the same backed-up release.
Update bundle	Applies one exact source-to-target appliance transition.	Appliance update. It cannot replace a full release bundle for recovery.
Artifact bundle	Sensitive archive containing cluster access and recovery material, including private keys.	Reconnect, Management reconstruction, and full appliance recovery.
Full backup bundle	Appliance state and an inventory of the configuration and software captured in one completed full backup.	Appliance recovery, together with matching artifacts and release content.
Database recovery point	An independent physical database capture. Contains database data only.	Database recovery investigation. It is insufficient for full appliance recovery.
Recovery bundle	A full backup uploaded to Management’s bundle list.	Selection in the recovery wizard. It stays stored until an administrator deletes it.
Diagnostics bundle	Collected logs, system information, and findings from one diagnostics run.	Support investigation. It cannot restore the appliance.

Material

Purpose

Where it is used

Management ISO

Boots the Management host and its embedded Management application. It remains attached to the Management VM.

Deploy Management.

Management container image

Runs Management with Docker or Podman on an operator-maintained host. Its image archive does not contain your initialized state.

Container deployment, including Compose.

Release bundle

Installs one specific appliance release and supplies that release’s installation content.

Fresh installation and recovery of the same backed-up release.

Update bundle

Applies one exact source-to-target appliance transition.

Appliance update. It cannot replace a full release bundle for recovery.

Artifact bundle

Sensitive archive containing cluster access and recovery material, including private keys.

Reconnect, Management reconstruction, and full appliance recovery.

Full backup bundle

Appliance state and an inventory of the configuration and software captured in one completed full backup.

Appliance recovery, together with matching artifacts and release content.

Database recovery point

An independent physical database capture. Contains database data only.

Database recovery investigation. It is insufficient for full appliance recovery.

Recovery bundle

A full backup uploaded to Management’s bundle list.

Selection in the recovery wizard. It stays stored until an administrator deletes it.

Diagnostics bundle

Collected logs, system information, and findings from one diagnostics run.

Support investigation. It cannot restore the appliance.

See Download images and bundles for registry login, Docker/Podman pulls, archive transfer and public Talos boot media.

Retention Rules

Download and verify artifact bundles when prompted. Management retains their credentials for a limited access lease, not as your permanent recovery copy. Retain the full backup and its matching artifacts outside both Management and the appliance, together with access to the matching release bundle.

Keep backup keys for every backup generation you retain. Store artifact bundles under access controls appropriate for administrator credentials and private keys. Send a diagnostics archive to support through the agreed channel; do not substitute an artifact bundle.

Local release and recovery bundles consume Management storage. Before deleting content, check whether installation, update or recovery still needs it. See bundle management and storage maintenance.