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openclaw backup create --verify exits 13, leaves corrupt .tmp archive; verifier also rejects older backup hardlinks #89257

Description

@mgonto
  • Version: OpenClaw 2026.5.28 (e932160)
  • Command: openclaw backup create --output /home/gonto/backups/openclaw --verify
  • Result: process exited 13 after ~2 min, leaving a partial .tmp archive.
  • Only stderr:
    Warning: Detected unsettled top-level await at .../openclaw.mjs:653
  • The leftover temp archive is corrupt: tar -tzf ends with:
    • gzip: stdin: unexpected end of file
    • tar: Unexpected EOF in archive
  • Disk space was fine: /dev/sda1 had ~105GB free.
  • Workaround: created a compatible archive manually and verified it successfully with openclaw backup verify (196,281 entries scanned).
  • Additional verifier regression: a previous backup from 2026-05-04 now fails current openclaw backup verify with Archive hardlink target is outside the declared archive root....

Expected behavior:

  • backup create --verify should either complete and verify a usable archive, or fail cleanly without leaving a corrupt temp archive.
  • backup verify should keep verifying previously valid OpenClaw backup archives, including archives with internal hardlinks, as long as hardlink targets remain inside the archive root.

Notes:

  • The manual workaround suggests the source data and available disk were not the blockers.
  • The temp archive left by the failing command appears truncated rather than merely failing verification.

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    P1High-priority user-facing bug, regression, or broken workflow.clawsweeper:fix-shape-clearClawSweeper found a clear likely implementation shape for this issue.clawsweeper:needs-live-reproClawSweeper needs live local, crabbox, or manual validation to confirm this issue.clawsweeper:needs-maintainer-reviewClawSweeper marked this issue as needing maintainer review before automation.clawsweeper:needs-product-decisionClawSweeper marked this issue as needing a product or behavior decision.clawsweeper:no-new-fix-prClawSweeper does not recommend queueing a new automated fix PR for this issue.impact:crash-loopCrash, hang, restart loop, or process-level availability failure.impact:data-lossCan lose, corrupt, or silently drop user/session/config data.issue-rating: 🐚 platinum hermitGood issue quality with a plausible reproduction path needing some confirmation.

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