I would like to create a fresh unraid install with default settings but maintain my disk configuration, shares and user accounts, permissions, etc.

I don't want to keep any dockers, plugins or custom unraid settings that aren't out of the box.

Which files should I keep on the flash and what does each file do? I know I need to keep the .key file.

Is there already a doc with explanation of files, directories, etc. in \config?

\config\*.key

\config\super.dat

\config\shares

\config\pools

\config\smbpasswd

\config\secrets.tdb

\config\passwd

\config\flash.cfg

\config\disk.cfg

\config\network.cfg

\config\ident.cfg

\config\drift

\config\plugins\dockerMan\templates-user

\config\plugins

...

...

...

There isn't a complete per-file reference that I know of, but for what you want, this is the list.

Keep these (they hold your assignments, shares and users):

- *.key: your license.

- super.dat: array disk assignments.

- pools/: pool definitions and pool device assignments.

- shares/: one .cfg per share with its settings, including SMB/NFS export, security and per-user access. The share data is on the disks anyway. Without the .cfg files the shares come back with default settings.

- passwd, shadow, smbpasswd, secrets.tdb: user accounts and their passwords. Note you also need shadow, which isn't in your list.

Optional, keep these only if you don't want to set them up again:

- ident.cfg: server name, description, time zone, NTP and management access settings.

- network.cfg and network-rules.cfg: network settings and NIC order. Without them you get the defaults, DHCP on eth0.

- disk.cfg: Disk Settings, like auto start, default file system and spin down.

- share.cfg: Global Share Settings.

Everything else can go. That includes the whole plugins folder (all plugins, webGUI display and notification settings, and the Docker templates), docker.cfg, domain.cfg, drift (just NTP clock drift data), flash.cfg, ssh, ssl, wireguard, modprobe.d and a customized go file.

The easiest way to do it:

1. Stop the array and make a flash backup (Main > Boot Device > Flash > Flash Backup).

2. Recreate the same flash drive with the USB Creator. Using the same flash keeps the key valid.

3. Copy the files above from the backup into the new config folder, then boot.

One important thing: Docker containers and VMs are not stored on the flash. They are in the docker.img (or Docker directory) and libvirt.img in the system share. With the default paths, your old containers and VMs will show up again after the reset. If you want to start with no containers, go to Settings > Docker, disable the service, delete the image (or directory) and enable it again. Do the same for VMs in Settings > VM Manager if you want. Note that this does not delete the appdata share, so delete that yourself if you don't need the old container data.

Thank you JorgeB for the great answer and details! I will follow the recommendations. I will also save this detail for future use.

Edited October 20Oct 20 by moose