Restoring server causes entire world to regenerate

[natey2000]

Hi there, I'm hosting a private server with my friends on docker and something went wrong and I'm trying to restore a backup. The docker image I'm using is from https://docs.linuxserver.io/images/docker-luanti/

This back up contains everything in the main folder (games, main-config, mod_data, mods, worlds, debug.txt)
When I restore the backup. Everything shows up as it should, but then everything in the world starts gradually reverting to when the world initially started. I'm assuming the world is trying to regenerate the map, but how do I stop that from happening?

Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

Here is the log messages after the restore, I stopped this after almost everything disapeared.

[migrations] started
luantiRestore | [migrations] no migrations found
luantiRestore | ───────────────────────────────────────
luantiRestore |
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luantiRestore | ╚══════╝╚══════╝╚═╝ ╚═════╝
luantiRestore |
luantiRestore | Brought to you by linuxserver.io
luantiRestore | ───────────────────────────────────────
luantiRestore |
luantiRestore | To support LSIO projects visit:
luantiRestore | https://www.linuxserver.io/donate/
luantiRestore |
luantiRestore | ───────────────────────────────────────
luantiRestore | GID/UID
luantiRestore | ───────────────────────────────────────
luantiRestore |
luantiRestore | User UID: 1000
luantiRestore | User GID: 1000
luantiRestore | ───────────────────────────────────────
luantiRestore | Linuxserver.io version: 5.11.0-ls7
luantiRestore | Build-date: 2025-02-23T21:55:09+00:00
luantiRestore | ───────────────────────────────────────
luantiRestore |
luantiRestore | [custom-init] No custom files found, skipping...
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 02:58:50: [Main]: Automatically selecting world at [/config/.minetest/worlds/world]
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 02:58:50: [Main]: Using game specified by --gameid on the command line
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 02:58:50: ERROR[Main]: The following mods could not be found: "mesecons_doors"
luantiRestore | [Mod] Death Messages [0.1.4] [death_messages] Loaded...
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 02:58:50: ACTION[Main]: [MOD] Spears loaded with throwing speed 13 and drag coeff. 0.1
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 02:58:50: ACTION[Main]: [hopper] Hopper mod loaded
luantiRestore | [MOD] Built-in Item loaded
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 02:58:50: ACTION[Main]: [MOD] Animalia [0.6] loaded
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 02:58:50: ACTION[Main]: MOD: Biofuel loading...
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 02:58:50: ACTION[Main]: MOD: Biofuel version 0.9 loaded.
luantiRestore |
luantiRestore | Powered by
luantiRestore |
luantiRestore | ██╗██████╗
luantiRestore | ██║╚════██╗
luantiRestore | ██║ █████╔╝
luantiRestore | ██║ ╚═══██╗
luantiRestore | ██║██████╔╝
luantiRestore | ╚═╝╚═════╝
luantiRestore |
luantiRestore | [Mod] everness loaded.. [0.132453s]
luantiRestore | The 'mobs_monster' mod is not enabled.
luantiRestore | [MOD] Mob Biome Mapper loaded
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 02:58:51: WARNING[Main]: Server: ignoring file as it has disallowed characters: "_Read Me.txt"
luantiRestore | _ _ _
luantiRestore | | |_ _ __ _ _ __ | |_(_)
luantiRestore | | | | | |/ _` | '_ \| __| |
luantiRestore | | | |_| | (_| | | | | |_| |
luantiRestore | |_|\__,_|\__,_|_| |_|\__|_|
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 02:58:52: ACTION[Main]: World at [/config/.minetest/worlds/world]
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 02:58:52: ACTION[Main]: Server for gameid="minetest" listening on 0.0.0.0:30000.
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 02:58:56: WARNING[Server]: Map::getNodeMetadata(): Block not found
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 02:59:13: ACTION[Server]: nate [192.168.0.222] joins game. List of players: nate
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 02:59:13: WARNING[Server]: Deprecated "hud_elem_type" field, use "type" instead. (at (load):18)
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 02:59:13: WARNING[Server]: Deprecated "hud_elem_type" field, use "type" instead. (at (load):138)
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 02:59:13: WARNING[Server]: Deprecated call to set_bone_position, use set_bone_override instead (at /config/.minetest/mods/3d_armor_flyswim/init.lua:457)
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 02:59:13: WARNING[Server]: Reading initial object properties directly from an entity definition is deprecated, move it to the 'initial_properties' table instead. (Property 'physical' in entity 'animalia:chicken')
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 02:59:13: WARNING[Server]: Reading initial object properties directly from an entity definition is deprecated, move it to the 'initial_properties' table instead. (Property 'physical' in entity 'animalia:reindeer')
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 02:59:13: WARNING[Server]: Reading initial object properties directly from an entity definition is deprecated, move it to the 'initial_properties' table instead. (Property 'physical' in entity 'animalia:opossum')
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 02:59:13: WARNING[Server]: Reading initial object properties directly from an entity definition is deprecated, move it to the 'initial_properties' table instead. (Property 'hp_max' in entity 'sum_airship:boat')
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 02:59:13: WARNING[Server]: Deprecated call to get_bone_position, use get_bone_override instead (at /config/.minetest/mods/animalia/api/api.lua:121)
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 02:59:13: WARNING[Server]: Deprecated call to set_bone_position, use set_bone_override instead (at /config/.minetest/mods/animalia/api/api.lua:138)
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 02:59:13: WARNING[Server]: Undeclared global variable "sum_air_currents" accessed at /config/.minetest/mods/sum_airship/balloon.lua:342
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 02:59:24: WARNING[Server]: Reading initial object properties directly from an entity definition is deprecated, move it to the 'initial_properties' table instead. (Property 'physical' in entity 'animalia:pig')
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 02:59:24: WARNING[Server]: Reading initial object properties directly from an entity definition is deprecated, move it to the 'initial_properties' table instead. (Property 'physical' in entity 'animalia:cow')
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 02:59:24: WARNING[Server]: Reading initial object properties directly from an entity definition is deprecated, move it to the 'initial_properties' table instead. (Property 'physical' in entity 'animalia:horse')
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 02:59:24: WARNING[Server]: Reading initial object properties directly from an entity definition is deprecated, move it to the 'initial_properties' table instead. (Property 'physical' in entity 'animalia:sheep')
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 02:59:30: WARNING[Server]: Reading initial object properties directly from an entity definition is deprecated, move it to the 'initial_properties' table instead. (Property 'physical' in entity 'animalia:bat')
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 02:59:30: WARNING[Server]: Reading initial object properties directly from an entity definition is deprecated, move it to the 'initial_properties' table instead. (Property 'physical' in entity 'animalia:turkey')
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 02:59:35: WARNING[Server]: Reading initial object properties directly from an entity definition is deprecated, move it to the 'initial_properties' table instead. (Property 'physical' in entity 'animalia:owl')
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 02:59:38: WARNING[Server]: Reading initial object properties directly from an entity definition is deprecated, move it to the 'initial_properties' table instead. (Property 'physical' in entity 'animalia:tropical_fish')
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 02:59:39: WARNING[Server]: Reading initial object properties directly from an entity definition is deprecated, move it to the 'initial_properties' table instead. (Property 'physical' in entity 'animalia:fox')
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 02:59:39: WARNING[Server]: Reading initial object properties directly from an entity definition is deprecated, move it to the 'initial_properties' table instead. (Property 'physical' in entity 'animalia:wolf')
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 02:59:41: WARNING[Server]: Server: Maximum lag peaked at 1.43798 (steplen=0.09)
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 02:59:41: WARNING[Server]: Reading initial object properties directly from an entity definition is deprecated, move it to the 'initial_properties' table instead. (Property 'physical' in entity 'animalia:frog')
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 02:59:44: WARNING[Server]: Reading initial object properties directly from an entity definition is deprecated, move it to the 'initial_properties' table instead. (Property 'physical' in entity 'animalia:song_bird')
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:00:08: WARNING[Server]: Reading initial object properties directly from an entity definition is deprecated, move it to the 'initial_properties' table instead. (Property 'physical' in entity 'animalia:cat')
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:00:21: ACTION[Server]: [Creatura] [ABM Spawning] Spawned 2 animalia:frog at (-108,1,157)
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:00:21: ACTION[Server]: [Creatura] [ABM Spawning] Spawned 1 animalia:frog at (-152,1,184)
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:00:26: WARNING[Server]: Server: Maximum lag peaked at 1.42116 (steplen=0.09)
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:00:28: ERROR[Server]: suspiciously large amount of objects detected: 264 in (-20,0,13); removing all of them.
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:00:30: WARNING[Server]: Reading initial object properties directly from an entity definition is deprecated, move it to the 'initial_properties' table instead. (Property 'collisionbox' in entity 'animalia:tied_lasso_entity')
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:00:30: WARNING[Server]: Reading initial object properties directly from an entity definition is deprecated, move it to the 'initial_properties' table instead. (Property 'pointable' in entity 'animalia:lasso_entity')
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:00:48: WARNING[Server]: Server: Maximum lag peaked at 2.02169 (steplen=0.09)
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:00:55: WARNING[Server]: Server: Maximum lag peaked at 3.32045 (steplen=0.09)
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:00:55: WARNING[Server]: collisionMoveSimple: maximum step interval exceeded, lost movement details!
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:01:15: ACTION[Server]: [Creatura] [ABM Spawning] Spawned 6 animalia:song_bird at (-80,12,8)
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:01:31: ACTION[Server]: nate digs mesecons_lightstone:lightstone_green_off at (-56,17,188)
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:01:35: ACTION[Server]: nate places node mesecons_lightstone:lightstone_green_off at (-56,17,188)
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:01:58: ACTION[Emerge-0]: [Everness] Mineral Waters Tower was placed at (-227, 4, 176)
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:01:58: ACTION[Emerge-0]: [Everness] Loot chests inventory populated at (-226, 9, 176) (-226, 17, 178)
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:02:06: WARNING[Server]: Server: Maximum lag peaked at 2.53374 (steplen=0.09)
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:02:06: WARNING[Server]: collisionMoveSimple: maximum step interval exceeded, lost movement details!
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:02:18: ACTION[Emerge-0]: [Everness] Loot chests inventory populated at (-291, 4, 153)
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:02:33: WARNING[Server]: Server: Maximum lag peaked at 2.73866 (steplen=0.09)
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:02:33: WARNING[Server]: collisionMoveSimple: maximum step interval exceeded, lost movement details!
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:02:50: ACTION[Server]: [Creatura] [ABM Spawning] Spawned 3 animalia:cow at (-9,36,142)
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:02:56: ACTION[Emerge-0]: [Everness] Loot chests inventory populated at (90, -10, 185)
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:03:07: WARNING[Server]: Server: Maximum lag peaked at 3.02242 (steplen=0.09)
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:03:07: WARNING[Server]: collisionMoveSimple: maximum step interval exceeded, lost movement details!
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:03:18: WARNING[Server]: collisionMoveSimple: maximum step interval exceeded, lost movement details!
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:03:27: ACTION[Emerge-0]: [Everness] Japanese Shrine was placed at (-225, 9, 100)
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:03:27: ACTION[Emerge-0]: [Everness] Loot chests inventory populated at (-221, 11, 100)
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:03:29: WARNING[Server]: collisionMoveSimple: maximum step interval exceeded, lost movement details!
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:03:35: ACTION[Server]: nate digs wool:blue at (-107,2,130)
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:03:40: ACTION[Emerge-0]: [Everness] Coral Forest Deep Ocean House was placed at (-96, -11, 288)
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:03:40: ACTION[Emerge-0]: [Everness] Loot chests inventory populated at (-98, 2, 288)
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:03:44: ACTION[Server]: nate places node wool:blue at (-141,9,212)
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:04:01: WARNING[Server]: Server: Maximum lag peaked at 2.44599 (steplen=0.09)
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:04:08: WARNING[Server]: Server: Maximum lag peaked at 3.1369 (steplen=0.09)
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:04:08: WARNING[Server]: collisionMoveSimple: maximum step interval exceeded, lost movement details!
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:04:10: ACTION[Emerge-0]: [Everness] Loot chests inventory populated at (90, -10, 185)
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:04:21: ACTION[Emerge-0]: [Everness] Coral Forest Deep Ocean House was placed at (-96, -11, 288)
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:04:21: ACTION[Emerge-0]: [Everness] Loot chests inventory populated at (-96, 2, 286)
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:04:30: WARNING[Server]: collisionMoveSimple: maximum step interval exceeded, lost movement details!
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:04:42: WARNING[Server]: Server: Maximum lag peaked at 3.16741 (steplen=0.09)
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:04:42: WARNING[Server]: collisionMoveSimple: maximum step interval exceeded, lost movement details!
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:04:52: ACTION[Emerge-0]: [Everness] Coral Forest Deep Ocean House was placed at (-96, -11, 288)
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:04:53: ACTION[Emerge-0]: [Everness] Loot chests inventory populated at (-93, 2, 288)
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:04:55: WARNING[Server]: Map::getNodeMetadata(): Block not found
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:04:55: WARNING[Server]: Map::getNodeMetadata(): Block not found
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:05:00: WARNING[Emerge-0]: Map::setNodeTimer(): Block not found
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:05:00: WARNING[Emerge-0]: Map::setNodeTimer(): Block not found
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:05:00: WARNING[Emerge-0]: Map::setNodeTimer(): Block not found
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:05:00: WARNING[Emerge-0]: Map::setNodeTimer(): Block not found
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:05:09: WARNING[Server]: Server: Maximum lag peaked at 3.09492 (steplen=0.09)
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:05:09: WARNING[Server]: collisionMoveSimple: maximum step interval exceeded, lost movement details!
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:05:14: ACTION[Emerge-0]: [Everness] Loot chests inventory populated at (90, -10, 185)
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:05:18: ACTION[Server]: [Creatura] [ABM Spawning] Spawned 4 animalia:cow at (29,23,136)
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:05:21: WARNING[Server]: collisionMoveSimple: maximum step interval exceeded, lost movement details!
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:05:31: WARNING[Server]: collisionMoveSimple: maximum step interval exceeded, lost movement details!
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:05:33: ACTION[Server]: [Creatura] [ABM Spawning] Spawned 7 animalia:tropical_fish at (54,-6,259)
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:05:33: ACTION[Emerge-0]: [Everness] Coral Forest Deep Ocean House was placed at (46, -11, 248)
luantiRestore | 2025-03-12 03:05:33: ACTION[Emerge-0]: [Everness] Loot chests inventory populated at (44, 2, 248)

[Blockhead]

What database backend does this container use? If it's PostgreSQL, then the database lives in a different place, outside of .minetest. But you did say your backup seemed to restore the modified state, then revert it. I'm reminded of the thread Problems with update. In that instance, the server was also reverting world/terrain to the default generation, but the backup was taken while the server was online. Was yours taken online or offline?

[natey2000]

What database backend does this container use? If it's PostgreSQL, then the database lives in a different place, outside of .minetest. But you did say your backup seemed to restore the modified state, then revert it. I'm reminded of the thread Problems with update. In that instance, the server was also reverting world/terrain to the default generation, but the backup was taken while the server was online. Was yours taken online or offline?

1. After some digging, I figured out my backend used in the container is sqlite3.
2. Yes, The backup looks like it restored everything properly. Here's how the "disappearing act" goes, everything loads within whatever the radius of the player is as normal, standing there, nothing happens. Give it some time, when I leave, either by logging off or flying away, and come back, whatever blocks that loaded in my radius previously gets reverted.
3. I looked at the thread you mentioned, some of the differences I noticed is that I'm trying to restore to the same game version and my backup was only a day old.
4. My server was taken offline for the backup. I'm using docker compose to manage my servers, and my backup script brings docker compose down every time to perform a backup, then brings it back up after it finishes.

[natey2000]

Some further details that may help:
All my items, achievements, and waypoints still exist and work properly.

One other thing I've tried is deleting the game on my personal computer and reinstalling it entirely, then restoring the backup on my server and running the server again, ensuring there was nothing cached on my computer. I'm Still getting the same results.

I can post a reduced version of my backup script and/or docker compose file if that would help.

[Bastrabun]

Any chance your sqlite database is readonly?

[natey2000]

Any chance your sqlite database is readonly?

That could be possible. Docker compose is executed with sudo, so I'm not sure if that would be an issue. I may be wrong. Here is the permissions when I list them from the "world" folder:

Code: Select all

-rw-r--r-- 1 user user             32768 Mar  9 23:22 auth.sqlite
-rw-r--r-- 1 user user                 154 Mar  4 17:48 beds_spawns
-rw-r--r-- 1 user user                 409 Oct 19 14:57 cleaner.json
-rw-r--r-- 1 user user               1385 Mar 13 13:20 env_meta.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 user user                     9 Feb 14 16:20 force_loaded.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 user user                     0 Feb 14 16:20 ipban.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 user user               3665 Oct 19 14:57 map_meta.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 user user   7707942912 Mar 11 03:00 map.sqlite
-rw-r--r-- 1 user user                 156 Feb 14 16:20 mesecon_actionqueue
-rw-r--r-- 1 user user           229376 Mar 13 13:20 mod_storage.sqlite
-rw-r--r-- 1 user user                   16 Oct 19 14:57 newplayer-keywords.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 user user               2598 Oct 19 14:57 newplayer-rules.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 user user           135168 Mar 10 01:39 players.sqlite
-rw-r--r-- 1 user user               2382 Oct 19 14:57 world.mt

Just to try it out, I changed all permissions so that everything in this folder is set to all permissions "-rwxrwxrwx" with a clean slate restore and I'm still running into the same issue.

[Bastrabun]

Does the size of your map.sqlite change? Looking at the file date, env_meta.txt looks more recent than the last change made to your map. Something cannot store. Check available space and anything that would inhibit it from writing. To make sure the setup in general works, you could also move it out of the container and run the world on a client.

[natey2000]

Does the size of your map.sqlite change? Looking at the file date, env_meta.txt looks more recent than the last change made to your map. Something cannot store. Check available space and anything that would inhibit it from writing. To make sure the setup in general works, you could also move it out of the container and run the world on a client.

Restoring the backup locally on my machine with plenty of space. I can confirm I get the same results, even with all mods disabled. (Except for the ones that come default with Minetest game.) I can also confirm the map.sqlite changes. It grew bigger after almost everything revered.

Looking at my backup, "env_meta.txt" is about 2 minutes newer than "map.sqlite" although that may be due to the backup making changes it at 3 AM when the backup occurs.

Just for fun, I deleted the "env_meta.txt" to let the game regenerate it and I still have the same issue.