Applies to: Only receivers exposing the recovery-menu workflow documented by OpenPLi
The useful distinctions
- The documented recovery menu is not available on every box.
- Its workflow can create a complete image backup.
- Restoration is a separate operation with destination choices.
Confirm the available recovery mechanism
OpenPLi describes a recovery-menu backup method for receivers that provide that facility. A familiar receiver brand or an installed plugin does not establish that the same external recovery menu exists. Identify the exact hardware and image context before following the procedure. A settings export and a complete image backup should also be named separately because they preserve different things.
Keep the backup tied to its origin
Label the resulting backup with the receiver, image and purpose. That context is more useful during recovery than an unexplained file on a drive. Wait for the documented completion state and keep the storage available until the operation finishes. The existence of a folder or partial file alone is not a verified recovery result.
Treat restoration as a later preflight
A backup workflow does not authorise a blind restore onto another receiver or slot. Before restoration, identify the intended destination and use the current model/image guidance. Keep important configuration recoverable and obtain help when the menu differs. This approach avoids turning an attempt to preserve a working setup into an unplanned firmware replacement.
A focused way to proceed
- Check whether the receiver supports the cited recovery interface.
- Prepare the documented external storage.
- Select the intended image in that recovery menu.
- Choose its Backup image action and wait for completion.
- Label the backup with its receiver/image context.
Worked example · synthetic
Hypothetical example: a viewer has a settings-only export but describes it as a complete receiver image. During planning, the distinction matters because the two objects do not answer the same recovery need. Checking the supported recovery method first makes the label and intended use more reliable.
When to stop or ask for help
Stop if the recovery interface or destination is uncertain. Obtain receiver/image-specific help rather than assuming every OpenPLi device offers the same number of image slots or restore options.