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Maniphest T9021

Save bash history during image upgrade
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Description

When upgrading (adding) the system image, the installer prompts the user to copy configuration and SSH host keys to the new image - but bash history is not preserved. It is silently lost, forcing operators to start with an empty history after every upgrade.

vyos@vyos1:~$ add system image 2026.06.22-1616-integration.iso
...
An active configuration was found. Would you like to copy it to the new image? [Y/n]
Copying configuration directory
Would you like to copy SSH host keys? [Y/n]
Copying SSH host keys
Copying system image files
...

Solution: extend the image upgrade script to detect and migrate the history file from the currently running image to the newly installed one.

vyos@vyos1:~$ add system image 2026.06.22-1616-integration.iso
...
Would you like to copy bash history? [y/N]
...
Copying bash history
...

Details

Version
-
Is it a breaking change?
Perfectly compatible
Issue type
Feature (new functionality)

Event Timeline

o.kuchmystyi created this task.Jun 25 2026, 3:37 PM
o.kuchmystyi triaged this task as Normal priority.
Apachez subscribed.Jun 26 2026, 6:10 AM
pasik subscribed.Jun 26 2026, 4:51 PM
o.kuchmystyi changed the task status from Open to In progress.Jul 15 2026, 9:58 AM
o.kuchmystyi added a comment.Jul 22 2026, 2:18 PM

PR: https://github.com/vyos/vyos-1x/pull/5344

Apachez added a comment.Jul 22 2026, 3:28 PM

Will chmod and chown be preserved on the directories and files being copied?

o.kuchmystyi closed this task as Resolved.Jul 23 2026, 10:38 AM
o.kuchmystyi added a comment.Jul 23 2026, 1:07 PM

I checked it manually and it looks like the metadata was transferred after upgrade:

vyos@vyos1:~$ sudo stat -c '%a %U:%G' .bash_history
600 vyos:users
vyos@vyos1:~$ sudo stat -c '%a %U:%G' .ssh/known_hosts
644 vyos:users
vyos@vyos1:~$ add system image vyos-999.202607231048-generic-amd64.iso
Validating image compatibility
Validating image checksums
...
Would you like to copy SSH host keys? [Y/n]
Copying SSH host keys
Would you like to save the SSH known hosts (fingerprints) from your current configuration? [Y/n]
Copying SSH known_hosts files
Would you like to copy bash history? [y/N] y
Copying bash history
...
vyos@vyos1:~$ sudo reboot now
...
vyos@vyos1:~$ sudo stat -c '%a %U:%G' .bash_history
600 vyos:users
vyos@vyos1:~$ sudo stat -c '%a %U:%G' .ssh/known_hosts
644 vyos:users
Apachez added a comment.Jul 23 2026, 8:06 PM

Is this also true for multiple users so they not all end up with vyos:users?

o.kuchmystyi added a comment.Jul 24 2026, 8:54 AM

Yes, I can confirm that it works the same with multiple users in the system:

vyos@vyos1:~$ sudo stat -c '%a %U:%G' .bash_history
600 vyos:users
vyos@vyos1:~$ su - testuser
testuser@vyos1:~$ pwd
/home/testuser
testuser@vyos1:~$ sudo stat -c '%a %U:%G' .bash_history
600 testuser:users