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docs: Describe usage of optional .old dir #1509

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docs: Describe usage of optional .old dir
as51340 Jan 16, 2026
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docs: Document HA scenario
as51340 Jan 16, 2026
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4 changes: 4 additions & 0 deletions pages/clustering/high-availability/how-high-availability-works.mdx
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Expand Up @@ -413,6 +413,10 @@ it undergoes a controlled recovery process:
is reused on subsequent recoveries, meaning **only one backup copy is kept at
a time**.

Use the `--storage-enable-backup-dir` flag to control this behavior:
- `true` (default) - Old durability files are moved to `.old` directories
- `false` - Old durability files are deleted immediately

---

The possibility of data loss during failover depends on the configured
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15 changes: 15 additions & 0 deletions pages/database-management/backup-and-restore.mdx
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Expand Up @@ -308,6 +308,21 @@ Execute `RECOVER SNAPSHOT <path_to_snapshot> FORCE`

</Steps>

## Usage of .old directory

By default, Memgraph backs up durability files to `snapshots/.old` and `wal/.old` directories before operations that could risk data loss.

When backup occurs:

1. `RECOVER SNAPSHOT` query - Before loading an external snapshot, Memgraph moves existing files from `snapshots/` to `snapshots/.old` and from `wal/` to `wal/.old`. T
his protects your data if the newly loaded snapshot turns out to be corrupted.
2. High Availability force sync - During replica's force syncing. See [this page](/clustering/high-availability/how-high-availability-works#replication-scenarios) for details.

Configuration:

Use the `--storage-enable-backup-dir` flag to control this behavior:
- `true` (default) - Old durability files are moved to `.old` directories
- `false` - Old durability files are deleted immediately

## Best practices

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1 change: 1 addition & 0 deletions pages/database-management/configuration.mdx
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Expand Up @@ -473,6 +473,7 @@ in Memgraph.
| `--storage-property-store-compression-enabled=false` | Controls whether the properties should be compressed in the storage. | `[bool]` |
| `--storage-property-store-compression-level=mid` | Controls property store compression level. Allowed values: low, mid, high | `[string]` |
| `--storage-access-timeout-sec=1` | Storage access timeout in seconds. Used to fine-tune the responsiveness and guard against queries indefinitely waiting. | `[uint64]` |
| `--storage-enable-backup-dir=true` | Controls whether `.old` directory will be used to store backup. | `[bool]` |

### Streams

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