nemoclaw-user-workspace

NemoClaw User Workspace

How to back up and restore OpenClaw workspace files before destructive operations.

Context

OpenClaw stores its personality, user context, and behavioral configuration in a set of Markdown files inside the sandbox. These files live at /sandbox/.openclaw/workspace/ and are collectively called workspace files.

File Reference

File	Purpose
SOUL.md	Defines the agent's persona, tone, and communication style.
USER.md	Stores information about the human the agent assists.
IDENTITY.md	Short identity card — name, language, emoji, creature type.
AGENTS.md	Behavioral rules, memory conventions, safety guidelines, and session workflow.
MEMORY.md	Curated long-term memory distilled from daily notes.
memory/	Directory of daily note files (YYYY-MM-DD.md) for session continuity.

Where They Live

All workspace files reside inside the sandbox filesystem:

/sandbox/.openclaw/workspace/
├── AGENTS.md
├── IDENTITY.md
├── MEMORY.md
├── SOUL.md
├── USER.md
└── memory/
    ├── 2026-03-18.md
    └── 2026-03-19.md

Persistence Behavior

Understanding when these files persist and when they are lost is critical.

Survives: Sandbox Restart

Sandbox restarts (openshell sandbox restart) preserve workspace files. The sandbox uses a Persistent Volume Claim (PVC) that outlives individual container restarts.

Lost: Sandbox Destroy

Running nemoclaw <name> destroy deletes the sandbox and its PVC. All workspace files are permanently lost unless you back them up first.

Warning: Always back up your workspace files before running nemoclaw <name> destroy. See Backup and Restore (see the nemoclaw-user-workspace skill) for instructions.

Editing Workspace Files

The agent reads these files at the start of every session. You can edit them in two ways:

1. Let the agent do it — Ask your agent to update its persona, memory, or user context.
2. Edit manually — Use openshell sandbox shell to open a terminal inside the sandbox and edit files directly, or use openshell sandbox upload to push edited files from your host.

Workspace files define your agent's personality, memory, and user context. They persist across sandbox restarts but are permanently deleted when you run nemoclaw <name> destroy.

This guide covers manual backup with CLI commands and an automated script.

Step 1: When to Back Up

• Before running nemoclaw <name> destroy
• Before major NemoClaw version upgrades
• Periodically, if you've invested time customizing your agent

Step 2: Manual Backup

Use openshell sandbox download to copy files from the sandbox to your host.

$ SANDBOX=my-assistant
$ BACKUP_DIR=~/.nemoclaw/backups/$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)
$ mkdir -p "$BACKUP_DIR"

$ openshell sandbox download "$SANDBOX" /sandbox/.openclaw/workspace/SOUL.md "$BACKUP_DIR/"
$ openshell sandbox download "$SANDBOX" /sandbox/.openclaw/workspace/USER.md "$BACKUP_DIR/"
$ openshell sandbox download "$SANDBOX" /sandbox/.openclaw/workspace/IDENTITY.md "$BACKUP_DIR/"
$ openshell sandbox download "$SANDBOX" /sandbox/.openclaw/workspace/AGENTS.md "$BACKUP_DIR/"
$ openshell sandbox download "$SANDBOX" /sandbox/.openclaw/workspace/MEMORY.md "$BACKUP_DIR/"
$ openshell sandbox download "$SANDBOX" /sandbox/.openclaw/workspace/memory/ "$BACKUP_DIR/memory/"

Step 3: Manual Restore

Use openshell sandbox upload to push files back into a sandbox.

$ SANDBOX=my-assistant
$ BACKUP_DIR=~/.nemoclaw/backups/20260320-120000  # pick a timestamp

$ openshell sandbox upload "$SANDBOX" "$BACKUP_DIR/SOUL.md" /sandbox/.openclaw/workspace/
$ openshell sandbox upload "$SANDBOX" "$BACKUP_DIR/USER.md" /sandbox/.openclaw/workspace/
$ openshell sandbox upload "$SANDBOX" "$BACKUP_DIR/IDENTITY.md" /sandbox/.openclaw/workspace/
$ openshell sandbox upload "$SANDBOX" "$BACKUP_DIR/AGENTS.md" /sandbox/.openclaw/workspace/
$ openshell sandbox upload "$SANDBOX" "$BACKUP_DIR/MEMORY.md" /sandbox/.openclaw/workspace/
$ openshell sandbox upload "$SANDBOX" "$BACKUP_DIR/memory/" /sandbox/.openclaw/workspace/memory/

Step 4: Using the Backup Script

The repository includes a convenience script at scripts/backup-workspace.sh.

Backup

$ ./scripts/backup-workspace.sh backup my-assistant
Backing up workspace from sandbox 'my-assistant'...
Backup saved to /home/user/.nemoclaw/backups/20260320-120000/ (6 items)

Restore

Restore from the most recent backup:

$ ./scripts/backup-workspace.sh restore my-assistant

Restore from a specific timestamp:

$ ./scripts/backup-workspace.sh restore my-assistant 20260320-120000

Step 5: Verifying a Backup

List backed-up files to confirm completeness:

$ ls -la ~/.nemoclaw/backups/20260320-120000/
AGENTS.md
IDENTITY.md
MEMORY.md
SOUL.md
USER.md
memory/

Related Skills

• nemoclaw-user-reference — Commands reference