Back up existing files before every service overwrites them

Confirmed live: install_frigate()'s fresh-install path overwrote a
working, hand-crafted docker-compose.yml (Frigate + mosquitto +
frigate-notify) with zero backup, because that file's shape didn't match
what frigate.sh's own "existing install" detection knew how to recognize.
Every service's own detection is a judgment call about what counts as
"already installed" and can miss a real setup built outside this repo's
conventions.

lib/common.sh gains backup_if_exists(FILE) — copies FILE to
FILE.bak.<timestamp> if it exists, no-ops otherwise (including DRY_RUN).
Applied before every service's own `cat > docker-compose.yml`/`cat > .env`
write across all 60 services that do one (115 call sites), plus a matching
standalone-mode stub added to every service's own bootstrap block, same
convention already used for port_in_use/find_free_port. This doesn't
replace a service's own update/fresh-reinstall detection — it's the safety
net underneath it, so a wrong detection costs a .bak file to restore from
instead of the original silently disappearing.

Also fixes the actual gap that surfaced this: services/frigate.sh's
Authelia offer only checked for Authelia installed locally on Frigate's
own box, which is never true for a dedicated NVR box with no local Caddy
either (the common shape — Caddy lives elsewhere, snippet-generation mode
already handles that). Now offers Authelia protection unconditionally and,
when Authelia isn't local, asks whether it lives on the same machine as
Caddy (still "import authelia", since that's local to wherever Caddy ends
up) or on a genuinely separate third machine (the explicit
header-pinned forward_auth form, per CLAUDE.md's "forward_auth to a remote
Authelia" note, needed because a bare authelia:9091 shortcut only works
one hop).

lib/common.sh

@@ -802,6 +802,32 @@ write_readme() {
     chown "$ACTUAL_USER:$ACTUAL_USER" "$dir/README.md" 2>/dev/null || true
 }
 
+# Copies FILE to FILE.bak.<timestamp> if it already exists, right before a
+# caller is about to overwrite it with a fresh `cat > FILE` heredoc. No-ops
+# in DRY_RUN and silently no-ops if FILE doesn't exist yet (first install,
+# nothing to save) — safe to call unconditionally right before every such
+# write, fresh install or not.
+#
+# Confirmed live: install_frigate()'s fresh-install path overwrote a
+# working, hand-crafted multi-container docker-compose.yml (Frigate +
+# mosquitto + frigate-notify) with zero backup, because that file's shape
+# didn't match what the service's own "existing install" detection knew
+# how to recognize. Every service's own detection logic is a judgment call
+# about what counts as "already installed" and can miss a real setup built
+# outside this repo's own conventions — this exists as the safety net
+# underneath that judgment call, not a replacement for it: call it right
+# before any `cat > FILE` that could clobber something a user already has,
+# so a wrong detection costs a `.bak` file to restore from instead of the
+# original silently disappearing.
+backup_if_exists() {
+    local file="$1"
+    [ "$DRY_RUN" = true ] && return 0
+    [ -f "$file" ] || return 0
+    local backup="${file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)"
+    cp -p "$file" "$backup" 2>/dev/null \
+        && log_info "Backed up existing $(basename "$file") to $(basename "$backup")"
+}
+
 # ── Host port collision avoidance (shared by every service that publishes a
 # fixed host port) ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 # With 70+ services in this repo, several ship the same default port (e.g.

services/actualbudget.sh

@@ -180,6 +180,11 @@ CBLOCK
             mkdir -p "$_dir"
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
     fi
 
     ACTUAL_USER="${ACTUAL_USER:-${SUDO_USER:-$USER}}"
@@ -388,6 +393,7 @@ networks:
 "
     fi
 
+    backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
     cat > docker-compose.yml << AB_COMPOSE
 name: $CONTAINER
 
@@ -405,6 +411,7 @@ services:
 ${_CADDY_NET_BLOCK}${_CADDY_NET_SECTION}
 AB_COMPOSE
 
+    backup_if_exists .env
     cat > .env << AB_ENV
 TZ=$TZ_VAL
 CADDY_NET=$SITE_CADDY_NET

services/ai-gpu.sh

@@ -170,6 +170,11 @@ CBLOCK
             [[ "${DRY_RUN:-false}" == "true" ]] && return 0
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
 
         generate_password() {
             local _len="${1:-32}"
@@ -368,6 +373,7 @@ install_ai-gpu() {
             sed -i "s|America/New_York|$TZ_VAL|g" {} \;
     fi
 
+    backup_if_exists "$IMAGE_GEN_DIR/.env"
     cat > "$IMAGE_GEN_DIR/.env" << IMGENV
 # InvokeAI — image generation
 TZ=${TZ_VAL}
@@ -407,6 +413,7 @@ IMGENV
     local WEBUI_SECRET
     WEBUI_SECRET="$(generate_password 32)"
 
+    backup_if_exists "$LLM_DIR/.env"
     cat > "$LLM_DIR/.env" << LLMENV
 # Ollama + Open WebUI + SearXNG
 TZ=${TZ_VAL}
@@ -441,6 +448,7 @@ LLMENV
         fi
     fi
 
+    backup_if_exists "$PORTAL_DIR/.env"
     cat > "$PORTAL_DIR/.env" << PORTALENV
 # AI Portal — GPU stack swap controller
 TZ=${TZ_VAL}

services/archivebox.sh

@@ -174,6 +174,11 @@ CBLOCK
             mkdir -p "$_dir"
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
     fi
 
     ACTUAL_USER="${ACTUAL_USER:-${SUDO_USER:-$USER}}"
@@ -240,6 +245,7 @@ networks:
 "
     fi
 
+    backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
     cat > docker-compose.yml << ABCOMPOSE
 name: archivebox
 
@@ -262,6 +268,7 @@ services:
 ${_CADDY_NET_BLOCK}${_CADDY_NET_SECTION}
 ABCOMPOSE
 
+    backup_if_exists .env
     cat > .env << ABENV
 CADDY_NET=$SITE_CADDY_NET
 ABENV

services/arm.sh

@@ -188,6 +188,11 @@ CBLOCK
             mkdir -p "$_dir"
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
     fi
 
     # Globals — ACTUAL_USER/ACTUAL_HOME must come before DOCKER_DIR
@@ -278,6 +283,7 @@ networks:
 "
     fi
 
+    backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
     cat > docker-compose.yml << ARM_COMPOSE
 name: arm
 
@@ -306,6 +312,7 @@ services:
 ${_CADDY_NET_BLOCK}${_CADDY_NET_SECTION}
 ARM_COMPOSE
 
+    backup_if_exists .env
     cat > .env << ARM_ENV
 ARM_OUTPUT=$ARM_OUTPUT
 CADDY_NET=$SITE_CADDY_NET

services/asterisk.sh

@@ -255,6 +255,11 @@ CBLOCK
             [[ "${DRY_RUN:-false}" == "true" ]] && return 0
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
 
         generate_password() {
             local _len="${1:-32}"
@@ -1588,6 +1593,7 @@ _asterisk_write_compose() {
 "
     [[ "$USE_EMBEDDED_COTURN" != true ]] && _COTURN_DEPENDS="" && _COTURN_SERVICE=""
 
+    backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
     cat > docker-compose.yml << EOF
 name: PROJECT_NAME_PLACEHOLDER
 
@@ -2727,6 +2733,7 @@ install_asterisk() {
 # WireGuard/Tailscale) on a subnet this box isn't directly attached to."
     fi
 
+    backup_if_exists .env
     cat > .env << ENV
 # ── Domain ────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 # ${_domain_comment}

services/audiobookshelf.sh

@@ -180,6 +180,11 @@ CBLOCK
             mkdir -p "$_dir"
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
     fi
 
     ACTUAL_USER="${ACTUAL_USER:-${SUDO_USER:-$USER}}"
@@ -379,6 +384,7 @@ networks:
 "
     fi
 
+    backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
     cat > docker-compose.yml << ABS_COMPOSE
 name: $CONTAINER
 
@@ -400,6 +406,7 @@ services:
 ${_CADDY_NET_BLOCK}${_CADDY_NET_SECTION}
 ABS_COMPOSE
 
+    backup_if_exists .env
     cat > .env << ABS_ENV
 AUDIOBOOKS_PATH=$AUDIOBOOKS_PATH
 PODCASTS_PATH=./podcasts

services/authelia.sh

@@ -186,6 +186,11 @@ CBLOCK
             mkdir -p "$_dir"
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
     fi
 
     # Globals — ACTUAL_USER/ACTUAL_HOME must come before DOCKER_DIR
@@ -408,6 +413,7 @@ install_authelia() {
     cd "$AUTHELIA_DIR" || return 1
 
     # ── .env ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+    backup_if_exists .env
     cat > .env << AUTHELIA_ENV
 MY_DOMAIN=${AUTHELIA_DOMAIN}
 SMTP_USER=${AUTHELIA_SMTP_USER}
@@ -416,6 +422,7 @@ TZ=${AUTHELIA_TZ}
 AUTHELIA_ENV
 
     # ── docker-compose.yml (quoted heredoc: ${SMTP_USER} resolved by compose/.env) ──
+    backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
     cat > docker-compose.yml << 'AUTHELIA_COMPOSE'
 name: authelia
 

services/beszel.sh

@@ -120,6 +120,11 @@ if [[ "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}" == "${0}" ]]; then
             local _companion; _companion="$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/beszel.md"
             [ -f "$_companion" ] && cat "$_companion" >> "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
     fi
 
     ACTUAL_USER="${ACTUAL_USER:-${SUDO_USER:-$USER}}"
@@ -458,6 +463,7 @@ networks:
     # profile recognizes. security_opt: apparmor:unconfined below is
     # Beszel's own documented fix (beszel.dev/guide/systemd#apparmor-error)
     # — confirmed live, this exact error on a real box.
+    backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
     cat > docker-compose.yml << BESZEL_COMPOSE
 name: beszel
 
@@ -504,6 +510,7 @@ BESZEL_COMPOSE
     # README). Not threaded through automatically here because Caddy setup
     # (below) happens after this file is written, same ordering every
     # other service in this repo uses for its own Caddy prompt.
+    backup_if_exists .env
     cat > .env << BESZEL_ENV
 TZ=${SITE_TZ:-$(cat /etc/timezone 2>/dev/null || echo UTC)}
 CADDY_NET=$SITE_CADDY_NET
@@ -678,6 +685,7 @@ install_beszel-agent() {
     # and there's no caddy_net to conditionally join since this box never
     # runs a web UI of its own. See that function's own comment for why the
     # systemd/dbus/sensor mounts below matter (Services/Temp columns).
+    backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
     cat > docker-compose.yml << AGENT_COMPOSE
 name: beszel-agent
 
@@ -703,6 +711,7 @@ services:
       - /sys/class/thermal:/sys/class/thermal:ro
 AGENT_COMPOSE
 
+    backup_if_exists .env
     cat > .env << AGENT_ENV
 TZ=${SITE_TZ:-$(cat /etc/timezone 2>/dev/null || echo UTC)}
 HUB_URL=$HUB_URL

services/caddy.sh

@@ -192,6 +192,11 @@ CBLOCK
             mkdir -p "$_dir"
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
     fi
 
     # Globals — ACTUAL_USER/ACTUAL_HOME must come before DOCKER_DIR
@@ -279,6 +284,7 @@ install_caddy() {
 
     cd "$CADDY_DIR" || return 1
 
+    backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
     cat > docker-compose.yml << 'CADDY_COMPOSE'
 name: caddy
 

services/calibre-web.sh

@@ -177,6 +177,11 @@ CBLOCK
             mkdir -p "$_dir"
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
     fi
 
     ACTUAL_USER="${ACTUAL_USER:-${SUDO_USER:-$USER}}"
@@ -242,6 +247,7 @@ networks:
 "
     fi
 
+    backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
     cat > docker-compose.yml << CW_COMPOSE
 name: calibre-web
 
@@ -264,6 +270,7 @@ services:
 ${_CADDY_NET_BLOCK}${_CADDY_NET_SECTION}
 CW_COMPOSE
 
+    backup_if_exists .env
     cat > .env << CW_ENV
 CADDY_NET=$SITE_CADDY_NET
 CW_ENV

services/changedetection.sh

@@ -177,6 +177,11 @@ CBLOCK
             mkdir -p "$_dir"
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
     fi
 
     ACTUAL_USER="${ACTUAL_USER:-${SUDO_USER:-$USER}}"
@@ -243,6 +248,7 @@ networks:
 "
     fi
 
+    backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
     cat > docker-compose.yml << CD_COMPOSE
 name: changedetection
 
@@ -272,6 +278,7 @@ ${_CADDY_NET_BLOCK}    depends_on:
 ${_CADDY_NET_BLOCK}${_CADDY_NET_SECTION}
 CD_COMPOSE
 
+    backup_if_exists .env
     cat > .env << CD_ENV
 # Changedetection.io environment — edit before starting if needed
 BASE_URL=https://changes.${SITE_DOMAIN}

services/ddclient.sh

@@ -174,6 +174,11 @@ CBLOCK
             mkdir -p "$_dir"
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
     fi
 
     # Globals — ACTUAL_USER/ACTUAL_HOME must come before DOCKER_DIR
@@ -212,6 +217,7 @@ install_ddclient() {
 
     local TZ_VAL; TZ_VAL="${SITE_TZ:-$(cat /etc/timezone 2>/dev/null || echo UTC)}"
 
+    backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
     cat > docker-compose.yml << 'DDCLIENT_COMPOSE'
 name: ddclient
 
@@ -229,6 +235,7 @@ services:
       - ./config:/config
 DDCLIENT_COMPOSE
 
+    backup_if_exists .env
     cat > .env << DDCLIENT_ENV
 TZ=$TZ_VAL
 DDCLIENT_ENV

services/drum-rhythm-game.sh

@@ -178,6 +178,11 @@ CBLOCK
             mkdir -p "$_dir"
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
     fi
 
     ACTUAL_USER="${ACTUAL_USER:-${SUDO_USER:-$USER}}"
@@ -477,6 +482,7 @@ networks:
 "
     fi
 
+    backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
     cat > docker-compose.yml << DRUM_COMPOSE
 name: drum-rhythm-game
 
@@ -492,6 +498,7 @@ services:
 ${_CADDY_NET_BLOCK}${_CADDY_NET_SECTION}
 DRUM_COMPOSE
 
+    backup_if_exists .env
     cat > .env << DRUM_ENV
 CADDY_NET=${SITE_CADDY_NET}
 DRUM_ENV

services/emby.sh

@@ -189,6 +189,11 @@ CBLOCK
             mkdir -p "$_dir"
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
     fi
 
     # Globals — ACTUAL_USER/ACTUAL_HOME must come before DOCKER_DIR
@@ -352,6 +357,7 @@ networks:
 "
     fi
 
+    backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
     cat > docker-compose.yml << EMBY_COMPOSE
 name: $CONTAINER
 
@@ -377,6 +383,7 @@ services:
 ${_CADDY_NET_BLOCK}${_CADDY_NET_SECTION}
 EMBY_COMPOSE
 
+    backup_if_exists .env
     cat > .env << EMBY_ENV
 MEDIA_PATH=$MEDIA_PATH
 CADDY_NET=$SITE_CADDY_NET

services/filebrowser.sh

@@ -177,6 +177,11 @@ CBLOCK
             mkdir -p "$_dir"
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
     fi
 
     ACTUAL_USER="${ACTUAL_USER:-${SUDO_USER:-$USER}}"
@@ -315,6 +320,7 @@ networks:
 "
     fi
 
+    backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
     cat > docker-compose.yml << FB_COMPOSE
 name: $CONTAINER
 
@@ -334,6 +340,7 @@ services:
 ${_CADDY_NET_BLOCK}${_CADDY_NET_SECTION}
 FB_COMPOSE
 
+    backup_if_exists .env
     cat > .env << FB_ENV
 CADDY_NET=$SITE_CADDY_NET
 FB_ENV

services/fmd.sh

@@ -199,6 +199,11 @@ CBLOCK
             mkdir -p "$_dir"
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
     fi
 
     # Globals — ACTUAL_USER/ACTUAL_HOME must come before DOCKER_DIR
@@ -339,6 +344,7 @@ networks:
 "
     fi
 
+    backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
     cat > docker-compose.yml << FMD_COMPOSE
 name: $CONTAINER
 
@@ -357,6 +363,7 @@ services:
 ${_CADDY_NET_BLOCK}${_CADDY_NET_SECTION}
 FMD_COMPOSE
 
+    backup_if_exists .env
     cat > .env << FMD_ENV
 FMD_REGISTRATIONTOKEN=$FMD_TOKEN
 CADDY_NET=$SITE_CADDY_NET

services/frigate-audio.sh

@@ -207,6 +207,11 @@ CBLOCK
             mkdir -p "$_dir"
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
     fi
 
     # Globals — ACTUAL_USER/ACTUAL_HOME must come before DOCKER_DIR
@@ -365,6 +370,7 @@ install_frigate-audio() {
 
     # ── .env ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
     log_info "Writing .env..."
+    backup_if_exists "$DIR/.env"
     cat > "$DIR/.env" << ENVEOF
 # Frigate audio stack — generated by setup.sh
 # DO NOT commit this file — it contains credentials.
@@ -432,6 +438,7 @@ networks:
 "
     fi
 
+    backup_if_exists "$DIR/docker-compose.yml"
     cat > "$DIR/docker-compose.yml" << 'COMPOSEEOF'
 # Frigate NVR + Mosquitto MQTT + frigate-notify
 # Generated by ubuntu-post-install setup.sh

services/frigate-notify.sh

@@ -174,6 +174,11 @@ CBLOCK
             mkdir -p "$_dir"
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
     fi
 
     # Globals — ACTUAL_USER/ACTUAL_HOME must come before DOCKER_DIR
@@ -234,6 +239,7 @@ networks:
 "
     fi
 
+    backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
     cat > docker-compose.yml << FN_COMPOSE
 name: frigate-notify
 

services/frigate.sh

@@ -202,6 +202,11 @@ CBLOCK
             mkdir -p "$_dir"
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
     fi
 
     # Globals — ACTUAL_USER/ACTUAL_HOME must come before DOCKER_DIR
@@ -626,6 +631,7 @@ networks:
 "
         fi
 
+        backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
         cat > docker-compose.yml << FRIGATE_COMPOSE
 name: frigate
 
@@ -673,16 +679,71 @@ FRIGATE_COMPOSE
         # reverse_proxy block) stops that trust from being spoofed by a
         # request that reaches Frigate's published host port directly,
         # bypassing Caddy/Authelia entirely.
+        # Whether to even OFFER this can't just check "$DOCKER_DIR/authelia"
+        # locally — Frigate's own box very often has no local Caddy at all
+        # (configure_caddy_for_service falls back to writing a snippet for
+        # a remote Caddy machine to pick up, confirmed live: this is the
+        # normal shape for a dedicated NVR box), in which case Authelia, if
+        # it exists anywhere, lives on THAT remote Caddy machine instead —
+        # a box this script has no filesystem access to inspect. Default to
+        # "y" only when local Authelia is actually confirmed; otherwise still
+        # offer it (default "n") and sort out local-vs-remote below once the
+        # admin says yes, rather than silently refusing to ask at all.
         local FRIGATE_USE_AUTHELIA="n" FRIGATE_PROXY_SECRET="" AUTH_CONFIG_BLOCK=""
-        if [ -d "$DOCKER_DIR/authelia" ]; then
+        local _frigate_local_authelia="n"
+        [ -d "$DOCKER_DIR/authelia" ] && _frigate_local_authelia="y"
         echo ""
-            prompt_yn "Protect Frigate with Authelia SSO (disables Frigate's own login)? (y/n):" "y" FRIGATE_USE_AUTHELIA
-        fi
+        prompt_yn "Protect Frigate with Authelia SSO (disables Frigate's own login)? (y/n):" "$_frigate_local_authelia" FRIGATE_USE_AUTHELIA
 
         if [[ "$FRIGATE_USE_AUTHELIA" =~ ^[Yy]$ ]]; then
             FRIGATE_PROXY_SECRET="${ENV_MAP[FRIGATE_PROXY_AUTH_SECRET]:-$(generate_password 32)}"
+
+            # Local Authelia snippet (import authelia) only actually exists
+            # in the Caddyfile it's imported into if Authelia is on THAT
+            # same machine. When it's on this box, that's this box's own
+            # Caddy — safe to assume. When Caddy itself turns out to be
+            # remote (below), "local" instead means "local to wherever
+            # Caddy is", which this script can't see — so ask, rather than
+            # silently emit an import that would fail Caddy's own reload
+            # with "file to import not found" on that other machine.
+            local _frigate_auth_block="    import authelia"
+            if [ "$_frigate_local_authelia" != "y" ]; then
+                echo ""
+                log_info "No local Authelia on this box — Caddy for Frigate may end up on a"
+                log_info "different machine (decided next)."
+                local _authelia_with_caddy=""
+                prompt_yn "  Does Authelia run on that SAME machine as Caddy? (y/n):" "y" _authelia_with_caddy
+                if [[ ! "$_authelia_with_caddy" =~ ^[Yy]$ ]]; then
+                    # Genuinely cross-machine: Authelia is a third box,
+                    # different from both this one and wherever Caddy ends
+                    # up. Needs the explicit header-pinned forward_auth form
+                    # — see CLAUDE.md's "forward_auth to a remote Authelia"
+                    # note for why the bare "authelia:9091" shortcut can't
+                    # be used here and X-Forwarded-Host must be pinned
+                    # explicitly (a second Caddy hop otherwise silently
+                    # evaluates every domain as if it were auth's own
+                    # portal domain — confirmed live, a real incident this
+                    # exact snippet shape was written to prevent).
+                    local _remote_authelia_domain=""
+                    prompt_text "  Authelia's own portal domain (e.g. authelia.example.com):" "" _remote_authelia_domain
+                    if [ -n "$_remote_authelia_domain" ]; then
+                        _frigate_auth_block="    forward_auth https://${_remote_authelia_domain} {
+        uri /api/authz/forward-auth
+        copy_headers Remote-User Remote-Groups Remote-Name Remote-Email
+        header_up X-Forwarded-Method {method}
+        header_up X-Forwarded-Proto {scheme}
+        header_up X-Forwarded-Host {host}
+        header_up X-Forwarded-Uri {uri}
+    }"
+                    else
+                        log_warning "No domain entered — falling back to 'import authelia', which will fail"
+                        log_warning "Caddy's reload unless Authelia is actually local to that Caddy machine."
+                    fi
+                fi
+            fi
+
             configure_caddy_for_service "Frigate" "frigate:5000" "frigate" \
-                "    import authelia" \
+                "$_frigate_auth_block" \
                 "        header_up X-Proxy-Secret ${FRIGATE_PROXY_SECRET}"
             if [ "${CADDY_SERVICE_CONFIGURED:-false}" = true ]; then
                 AUTH_CONFIG_BLOCK="auth:
@@ -780,6 +841,7 @@ snapshots:
 FRIGATE_CONFIG
         fi
 
+        backup_if_exists .env
         cat > .env << FRIGATE_ENV
 FRIGATE_MEDIA=$FRIGATE_MEDIA
 CADDY_NET=$SITE_CADDY_NET

services/garage-webui.sh

@@ -92,6 +92,11 @@ if [[ "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}" == "${0}" ]]; then
             mkdir -p "$_dir"
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
     fi
 
     ACTUAL_USER="${ACTUAL_USER:-${SUDO_USER:-$USER}}"
@@ -199,6 +204,7 @@ install_garage-webui() {
     ensure_docker_dir_ownership "$DIR"
     cd "$DIR" || return 1
 
+    backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
     cat > docker-compose.yml << COMPOSE
 name: garage-webui
 
@@ -219,6 +225,7 @@ services:
       - "${WEB_PORT}:3909"
 COMPOSE
 
+    backup_if_exists .env
     cat > .env << ENV
 TZ=${SITE_TZ:-$(cat /etc/timezone 2>/dev/null || echo UTC)}
 

services/garage.sh

@@ -108,6 +108,11 @@ if [[ "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}" == "${0}" ]]; then
             mkdir -p "$_dir"
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
     fi
 
     # Globals — ACTUAL_USER/ACTUAL_HOME must come before DOCKER_DIR
@@ -277,6 +282,7 @@ api_bind_addr = "[::]:${ADMIN_PORT}"
 admin_token = "${ADMIN_TOKEN}"
 TOML
 
+    backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
     cat > docker-compose.yml << COMPOSE
 name: garage
 
@@ -297,6 +303,7 @@ services:
       - "${ADMIN_PORT}:${ADMIN_PORT}"
 COMPOSE
 
+    backup_if_exists .env
     cat > .env << ENV
 TZ=${SITE_TZ:-$(cat /etc/timezone 2>/dev/null || echo UTC)}
 

services/gatus.sh

@@ -187,6 +187,11 @@ CBLOCK
             mkdir -p "$_dir"
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
     fi
 
     # Globals — ACTUAL_USER/ACTUAL_HOME must come before DOCKER_DIR
@@ -405,6 +410,7 @@ networks:
 "
     fi
 
+    backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
     cat > docker-compose.yml << GATUS_COMPOSE
 name: gatus
 
@@ -423,6 +429,7 @@ services:
 ${_CADDY_NET_BLOCK}${_CADDY_NET_SECTION}
 GATUS_COMPOSE
 
+    backup_if_exists .env
     cat > .env << GATUS_ENV
 TZ=$TZ_VAL
 CADDY_NET=$SITE_CADDY_NET

services/gitea.sh

@@ -104,6 +104,11 @@ if [[ "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}" == "${0}" ]]; then
             mkdir -p "$_dir"
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
     fi
 
     ACTUAL_USER="${ACTUAL_USER:-${SUDO_USER:-$USER}}"
@@ -585,6 +590,7 @@ install_gitea() {
     [[ "$WEB_PORT" != 3001 ]] && log_info "Port 3001 was taken — Gitea's web UI will use ${WEB_PORT}."
     [[ "$SSH_PORT" != 2222 ]] && log_info "Port 2222 was taken — Gitea's SSH clone port will use ${SSH_PORT}."
 
+    backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
     cat > docker-compose.yml << EOF
 name: gitea
 services:
@@ -699,6 +705,7 @@ EOF
     cp -f "$SYNC_SRC" "$DIR/gitea-github-sync.sh"
     chmod +x "$DIR/gitea-github-sync.sh"
 
+    backup_if_exists "$DIR/.env"
     cat > "$DIR/.env" << ENV
 # Written by services/gitea.sh — re-run that (update mode) to change any of this.
 GITEA_URL='http://localhost:${WEB_PORT}'

services/homeassistant.sh

@@ -274,6 +274,7 @@ networks:
 "
     fi
 
+    backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
     cat > docker-compose.yml << HOMEASSISTANT_COMPOSE
 name: homeassistant
 

services/homebox.sh

@@ -177,6 +177,11 @@ CBLOCK
             mkdir -p "$_dir"
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
     fi
 
     ACTUAL_USER="${ACTUAL_USER:-${SUDO_USER:-$USER}}"
@@ -311,6 +316,7 @@ networks:
     local HB_PEPPER
     HB_PEPPER="$(generate_password 48)"
 
+    backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
     cat > docker-compose.yml << HB_COMPOSE
 name: $CONTAINER
 
@@ -331,6 +337,7 @@ services:
 ${_CADDY_NET_BLOCK}${_CADDY_NET_SECTION}
 HB_COMPOSE
 
+    backup_if_exists .env
     cat > .env << HB_ENV
 CADDY_NET=$SITE_CADDY_NET
 

services/immich.sh

@@ -183,6 +183,11 @@ CBLOCK
             mkdir -p "$_dir"
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
     fi
 
     ACTUAL_USER="${ACTUAL_USER:-${SUDO_USER:-$USER}}"
@@ -606,6 +611,7 @@ networks:
     [ -n "$EXTERNAL_LIBRARY" ] && _EXTERNAL_VOLUME_LINE="      - \${EXTERNAL_LIBRARY}:/usr/src/app/external:ro
 "
 
+    backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
     cat > docker-compose.yml << IMMICH_COMPOSE
 name: $PROJECT
 
@@ -686,6 +692,7 @@ S3_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY=$S3_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY
     fi
 
     if [ "$IMMICH_STRATEGY" = "2" ]; then
+        backup_if_exists .env
         cat > .env << IMMICH_ENV
 # IMMICH CONFIGURATION — External Library Mode
 #
@@ -713,6 +720,7 @@ TZ=$TZ_VAL
 CADDY_NET=$SITE_CADDY_NET
 IMMICH_ENV
     else
+        backup_if_exists .env
         cat > .env << IMMICH_ENV
 # IMMICH CONFIGURATION — Unified Library
 #

services/iopaint.sh

@@ -185,6 +185,11 @@ CBLOCK
             [[ "${DRY_RUN:-false}" == "true" ]] && return 0
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
     fi
 
     ACTUAL_USER="${ACTUAL_USER:-${SUDO_USER:-$USER}}"
@@ -314,6 +319,7 @@ networks:
     fi
 
     if [[ "$USE_GPU" =~ ^[Yy]$ ]]; then
+        backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
         cat > docker-compose.yml << IOPAINT_GPU
 name: iopaint
 
@@ -346,6 +352,7 @@ services:
 ${_CADDY_NET_BLOCK}${_CADDY_NET_SECTION}
 IOPAINT_GPU
     else
+        backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
         cat > docker-compose.yml << IOPAINT_CPU
 name: iopaint
 
@@ -373,6 +380,7 @@ IOPAINT_CPU
     fi
 
     # ── .env ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+    backup_if_exists .env
     cat > .env << IOPAINT_ENV
 # IOPaint — change MODEL and restart to switch (no need to edit docker-compose.yml)
 

services/jellyfin.sh

@@ -182,6 +182,11 @@ CBLOCK
             mkdir -p "$_dir"
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
     fi
 
     ACTUAL_USER="${ACTUAL_USER:-${SUDO_USER:-$USER}}"
@@ -347,6 +352,7 @@ networks:
 '
     fi
 
+    backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
     cat > docker-compose.yml << JELLYFIN_COMPOSE
 name: $CONTAINER
 
@@ -368,6 +374,7 @@ $HWACCEL_BLOCK
 ${_DISCOVERY_PORTS}${_CADDY_NET_BLOCK}${_CADDY_NET_SECTION}
 JELLYFIN_COMPOSE
 
+    backup_if_exists .env
     cat > .env << JELLYFIN_ENV
 MEDIA_PATH=$MEDIA_PATH
 CADDY_NET=$SITE_CADDY_NET

services/joplin.sh

@@ -177,6 +177,11 @@ CBLOCK
             mkdir -p "$_dir"
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
     fi
 
     ACTUAL_USER="${ACTUAL_USER:-${SUDO_USER:-$USER}}"
@@ -314,6 +319,7 @@ networks:
 "
     fi
 
+    backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
     cat > docker-compose.yml << JOPLIN_COMPOSE
 name: $CONTAINER
 
@@ -340,6 +346,7 @@ ${_CADDY_NET_BLOCK}
 ${_CADDY_NET_BLOCK}${_CADDY_NET_SECTION}
 JOPLIN_COMPOSE
 
+    backup_if_exists .env
     cat > .env << JOPLIN_ENV
 # Joplin Server configuration
 APP_PORT=22300

services/js99er.sh

@@ -174,6 +174,11 @@ CBLOCK
             mkdir -p "$_dir"
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
     fi
 
     # Globals — ACTUAL_USER/ACTUAL_HOME must come before DOCKER_DIR
@@ -459,6 +464,7 @@ networks:
 "
     fi
 
+    backup_if_exists "$JS99ER_DIR/docker-compose.yml"
     cat > "$JS99ER_DIR/docker-compose.yml" << COMPOSE
 name: js99er
 

services/koha.sh

@@ -188,6 +188,11 @@ CBLOCK
             mkdir -p "$_dir"
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
     fi
 
     ACTUAL_USER="${ACTUAL_USER:-${SUDO_USER:-$USER}}"
@@ -410,6 +415,7 @@ install_koha() {
     fi
 
     # ── docker-compose.yml ────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+    backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
     cat > docker-compose.yml << KOHA_COMPOSE
 name: koha
 
@@ -481,6 +487,7 @@ ${_CADDY_NET_SECTION}
 KOHA_COMPOSE
 
     # ── config-main.env ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+    backup_if_exists config-main.env
     cat > config-main.env << KOHA_ENV
 # Koha ILS configuration — generated at install time
 MYSQL_SERVER=koha-db

services/kyber-server.sh

@@ -388,6 +388,7 @@ for a in data.get('assets', []):
     mkdir -p "$DIR"
     ensure_docker_dir_ownership "$DIR"
 
+    backup_if_exists "$DIR/docker-compose.yml"
     cat > "$DIR/docker-compose.yml" << EOF
 name: kyber-server
 services:
@@ -411,6 +412,7 @@ EOF
     # Write .env with restricted permissions
     # Values are single-quoted so special characters ($, !, &, etc.) are safe.
     # Exception: single quotes inside a value would still break — avoid them.
+    backup_if_exists "$DIR/.env"
     cat > "$DIR/.env" << EOF
 MAXIMA_CREDENTIALS='${EA_EMAIL}:${EA_PASSWORD}'
 KYBER_TOKEN='${KYBER_TOKEN}'
@@ -558,6 +560,11 @@ if [[ "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}" == "${0}" ]]; then
             mkdir -p "$_dir"
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
 
         ACTUAL_USER="${SUDO_USER:-$USER}"
         ACTUAL_HOME=$(eval echo "~$ACTUAL_USER")

services/lyrion.sh

@@ -188,6 +188,11 @@ CBLOCK
             mkdir -p "$_dir"
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
     fi
 
     # Globals — ACTUAL_USER/ACTUAL_HOME must come before DOCKER_DIR
@@ -353,6 +358,7 @@ install_lyrion() {
         _HTTP_PORT_INTERNAL="9000"
     fi
 
+    backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
     cat > docker-compose.yml << LYRION_COMPOSE
 name: $CONTAINER
 
@@ -375,6 +381,7 @@ ${_NETWORK_BLOCK}${_PORTS_BLOCK}    environment:
 
 LYRION_COMPOSE
 
+    backup_if_exists .env
     cat > .env << LYRION_ENV
 MUSIC_PATH=$MUSIC_PATH
 CADDY_NET=$SITE_CADDY_NET

services/magicmirror.sh

@@ -174,6 +174,11 @@ CBLOCK
             mkdir -p "$_dir"
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
     fi
 
     # Globals — ACTUAL_USER/ACTUAL_HOME must come before DOCKER_DIR
@@ -254,6 +259,7 @@ networks:
 "
         fi
 
+        backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
         cat > docker-compose.yml << MM_COMPOSE
 name: mm-$MM_PORT
 

services/mail-archiver.sh

@@ -170,6 +170,11 @@ CBLOCK
             mkdir -p "$_dir"
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
     fi
 
     # Globals — ACTUAL_USER/ACTUAL_HOME must come before DOCKER_DIR
@@ -244,6 +249,7 @@ networks:
 "
     fi
 
+    backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
     cat > docker-compose.yml << MA_COMPOSE
 name: mail-archiver
 
@@ -279,6 +285,7 @@ ${_CADDY_NET_BLOCK}
 ${_CADDY_NET_SECTION}
 MA_COMPOSE
 
+    backup_if_exists .env
     cat > .env << MA_ENV
 # ── General ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 TZ=$TZ_VAL

services/mattermost.sh

@@ -213,6 +213,11 @@ CBLOCK
             [[ "${DRY_RUN:-false}" == "true" ]] && return 0
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
 
         generate_password() {
             local _len="${1:-32}"
@@ -518,6 +523,7 @@ networks:
 "
     fi
 
+    backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
     cat > docker-compose.yml << EOF
 name: ${PROJECT}
 
@@ -580,6 +586,7 @@ ${_CADDY_NET_BLOCK}    healthcheck:
 ${_CADDY_NET_BLOCK}${_COTURN_SERVICE}${_CADDY_NET_SECTION}
 EOF
 
+    backup_if_exists .env
     cat > .env << EOF
 TZ=$TZ_VAL
 CADDY_NET=$SITE_CADDY_NET

services/mealie.sh

@@ -180,6 +180,11 @@ CBLOCK
             mkdir -p "$_dir"
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
     fi
 
     ACTUAL_USER="${ACTUAL_USER:-${SUDO_USER:-$USER}}"
@@ -459,6 +464,7 @@ networks:
 "
     fi
 
+    backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
     cat > docker-compose.yml << MEALIE_COMPOSE
 name: $CONTAINER
 
@@ -483,6 +489,7 @@ services:
 ${_CADDY_NET_BLOCK}${_CADDY_NET_SECTION}
 MEALIE_COMPOSE
 
+    backup_if_exists .env
     cat > .env << MEALIE_ENV
 # Public URL Mealie is served on — used for email links and OAuth redirects.
 # Update if you change your domain or switch from HTTP to HTTPS.

services/meshcentral.sh

@@ -188,6 +188,11 @@ CBLOCK
             mkdir -p "$_dir"
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
     fi
 
     # Globals — ACTUAL_USER/ACTUAL_HOME must come before DOCKER_DIR
@@ -323,6 +328,7 @@ networks:
 "
     fi
 
+    backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
     cat > docker-compose.yml << MC_COMPOSE
 name: $CONTAINER
 
@@ -350,6 +356,7 @@ services:
 ${_CADDY_NET_BLOCK}${_CADDY_NET_SECTION}
 MC_COMPOSE
 
+    backup_if_exists .env
     cat > .env << MC_ENV
 MC_HOSTNAME=$MC_HOSTNAME
 MC_REVERSE_PROXY=false

services/minecraft.sh

@@ -1519,6 +1519,7 @@ PREGENINFOEOF
       - ./config:/data/config"
     fi
 
+    backup_if_exists "$MC_DIR/docker-compose.yml"
     cat > "$MC_DIR/docker-compose.yml" << COMPOSEEOF
 name: ${MC_NAME}
 
@@ -1902,6 +1903,7 @@ EXPOSE 80
 CLIENTDOCKEREOF
 
         # Standalone compose for the client-mods page (its own folder).
+        backup_if_exists "$CLIENT_MODS_DIR/docker-compose.yml"
         cat > "$CLIENT_MODS_DIR/docker-compose.yml" << CMCOMPOSEEOF
 name: ${CM_NAME}
 

services/n8n.sh

@@ -177,6 +177,11 @@ CBLOCK
             mkdir -p "$_dir"
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
     fi
 
     ACTUAL_USER="${ACTUAL_USER:-${SUDO_USER:-$USER}}"
@@ -242,6 +247,7 @@ networks:
 "
     fi
 
+    backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
     cat > docker-compose.yml << N8N_COMPOSE
 name: n8n
 
@@ -266,6 +272,7 @@ services:
 ${_CADDY_NET_BLOCK}${_CADDY_NET_SECTION}
 N8N_COMPOSE
 
+    backup_if_exists .env
     cat > .env << N8N_ENV
 # n8n environment — edit before starting if needed
 N8N_HOST=n8n

services/nextcloud.sh

@@ -70,6 +70,11 @@ if [[ "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}" == "${0}" ]]; then
             mkdir -p "$_dir"
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
 
         # Match common.sh's eval-based pattern so local vars in install_* are set correctly
         prompt_text() {
@@ -260,6 +265,7 @@ networks:
     fi
 
     # ── docker-compose.yml ──────────────────────────────────────────────────
+    backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
     cat > docker-compose.yml << NCCOMPOSE
 name: nextcloud
 services:
@@ -290,6 +296,7 @@ ${_CADDY_NET_BLOCK}${_CADDY_NET_SECTION}
 NCCOMPOSE
 
     # ── .env ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+    backup_if_exists .env
     cat > .env << NCENV
 TZ=$TZ_VAL
 CADDY_NET=$SITE_CADDY_NET

services/ntfy.sh

@@ -184,6 +184,11 @@ CBLOCK
             mkdir -p "$_dir"
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
     fi
 
     # Globals — ACTUAL_USER/ACTUAL_HOME must come before DOCKER_DIR
@@ -309,6 +314,7 @@ networks:
 "
     fi
 
+    backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
     cat > docker-compose.yml << NTFY_COMPOSE
 name: $CONTAINER
 
@@ -329,6 +335,7 @@ services:
 ${_CADDY_NET_BLOCK}${_CADDY_NET_SECTION}
 NTFY_COMPOSE
 
+    backup_if_exists .env
     cat > .env << NTFY_ENV
 TZ=${SITE_TZ:-$(cat /etc/timezone 2>/dev/null || echo UTC)}
 CADDY_NET=$SITE_CADDY_NET

services/onlyoffice.sh

@@ -70,6 +70,11 @@ if [[ "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}" == "${0}" ]]; then
             mkdir -p "$_dir"
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
 
         # Match common.sh's eval-based pattern so local vars in install_* are set correctly
         prompt_text() {
@@ -280,6 +285,7 @@ networks:
     fi
 
     # ── docker-compose.yml ──────────────────────────────────────────────────
+    backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
     cat > docker-compose.yml << OOCOMPOSE
 name: onlyoffice
 services:
@@ -299,6 +305,7 @@ ${_CADDY_NET_BLOCK}${_CADDY_NET_SECTION}
 OOCOMPOSE
 
     # ── .env ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+    backup_if_exists .env
     cat > .env << OOENV
 CADDY_NET=$SITE_CADDY_NET
 # JWT authentication — keep JWT_SECRET private

services/pihole.sh

@@ -210,6 +210,11 @@ CBLOCK
             mkdir -p "$_dir"
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
     fi
 
     # Globals — ACTUAL_USER/ACTUAL_HOME must come before DOCKER_DIR
@@ -325,6 +330,7 @@ networks:
     # example — NET_ADMIN specifically is only needed if this instance is
     # ever used as a DHCP server too, which it isn't here, but the other two
     # (SYS_TIME, SYS_NICE) are part of that same documented baseline.
+    backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
     cat > docker-compose.yml << PIHOLE_COMPOSE
 name: pihole
 
@@ -351,6 +357,7 @@ services:
 ${_CADDY_NET_BLOCK}${_CADDY_NET_SECTION}
 PIHOLE_COMPOSE
 
+    backup_if_exists .env
     cat > .env << PIHOLE_ENV
 TZ=${SITE_TZ:-$(cat /etc/timezone 2>/dev/null || echo UTC)}
 # Admin web UI password (System Console / login screen).

services/portainer.sh

@@ -177,6 +177,11 @@ CBLOCK
             mkdir -p "$_dir"
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
     fi
 
     ACTUAL_USER="${ACTUAL_USER:-${SUDO_USER:-$USER}}"
@@ -242,6 +247,7 @@ networks:
 "
     fi
 
+    backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
     cat > docker-compose.yml << PORTAINER_COMPOSE
 name: portainer
 

services/pstn-trunk.sh

@@ -1746,6 +1746,7 @@ _pstn_apply_settings() {
     # Direct") — unquoted, bash's `source` would treat the second word of
     # any such value as a command to run ("Direct: command not found"),
     # confirmed live while testing the multi-IP change.
+    backup_if_exists "$EA_DIR/.pstn-trunk.env"
     cat > "$EA_DIR/.pstn-trunk.env" << ENV
 PROVIDER_NAME="${PROVIDER_NAME}"
 TRUNK_SERVER="${SERVER}"

services/rustdesk.sh

@@ -91,6 +91,11 @@ if [[ "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}" == "${0}" ]]; then
             mkdir -p "$_dir"
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
     fi
 
     # Globals — ACTUAL_USER/ACTUAL_HOME must come before DOCKER_DIR
@@ -230,6 +235,7 @@ install_rustdesk() {
     prompt_yn "Require encrypted connections only? (recommended) (y/n):" "y" _enc
     [ "$_enc" = "n" ] || [ "$_enc" = "N" ] && ENCRYPTED_ONLY="0"
 
+    backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
     cat > docker-compose.yml << RD_COMPOSE
 name: $CONTAINER
 
@@ -251,6 +257,7 @@ services:
       - ./rustdesk_data:/data
 RD_COMPOSE
 
+    backup_if_exists .env
     cat > .env << RD_ENV
 # ── General ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 TZ=$TZ_VAL

services/silent-send.sh

@@ -60,6 +60,11 @@ if [[ "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}" == "${0}" ]]; then
             mkdir -p "$_dir"
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
     fi
 
     # Globals — ACTUAL_USER/ACTUAL_HOME must come before DOCKER_DIR
@@ -176,6 +181,7 @@ EOF
             prompt_text "  WEB_EXT_API_KEY (e.g. user:12345678:901), blank to skip:" "" FF_KEY
             prompt_text "  WEB_EXT_API_SECRET, blank to skip:" "" FF_SECRET
             if [ -n "$FF_KEY" ] && [ -n "$FF_SECRET" ]; then
+                backup_if_exists "$SS_DIR/.env"
                 cat > "$SS_DIR/.env" << ENVEOF
 WEB_EXT_API_KEY="$FF_KEY"
 WEB_EXT_API_SECRET="$FF_SECRET"

services/stirling-pdf.sh

@@ -177,6 +177,11 @@ CBLOCK
             mkdir -p "$_dir"
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
     fi
 
     ACTUAL_USER="${ACTUAL_USER:-${SUDO_USER:-$USER}}"
@@ -242,6 +247,7 @@ networks:
 "
     fi
 
+    backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
     cat > docker-compose.yml << PDF_COMPOSE
 name: stirling-pdf
 
@@ -261,6 +267,7 @@ services:
 ${_CADDY_NET_BLOCK}${_CADDY_NET_SECTION}
 PDF_COMPOSE
 
+    backup_if_exists .env
     cat > .env << PDF_ENV
 # Stirling PDF configuration
 

services/syncthing.sh

@@ -147,6 +147,11 @@ CBLOCK
             mkdir -p "$_dir"
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
     fi
 
     # Globals — ACTUAL_USER/ACTUAL_HOME must come before DOCKER_DIR
@@ -225,6 +230,7 @@ networks:
 "
     fi
 
+    backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
     cat > docker-compose.yml << EOF
 name: syncthing
 
@@ -249,6 +255,7 @@ services:
 ${_CADDY_NET_BLOCK}${_CADDY_NET_SECTION}
 EOF
 
+    backup_if_exists .env
     cat > .env << ENV
 CADDY_NET=$SITE_CADDY_NET
 PUID=$PUID

services/traccar.sh

@@ -180,6 +180,11 @@ CBLOCK
             mkdir -p "$_dir"
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
     fi
 
     # Globals — ACTUAL_USER/ACTUAL_HOME must come before DOCKER_DIR
@@ -474,6 +479,7 @@ networks:
       - \"${PROTO_MIN}-${PROTO_MAX}:${PROTO_MIN}-${PROTO_MAX}/udp\""
     fi
 
+    backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
     cat > docker-compose.yml << TRACCAR_COMPOSE
 name: $CONTAINER
 
@@ -560,6 +566,7 @@ SMS_HTTP_PASSWORD=$SMS_HTTP_PASSWORD
         fi
     fi
 
+    backup_if_exists .env
     cat > .env << TRACCAR_ENV
 TZ=$TZ_VAL
 CADDY_NET=$SITE_CADDY_NET

services/unifi.sh

@@ -89,6 +89,11 @@ if [[ "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}" == "${0}" ]]; then
             mkdir -p "$_dir"
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
     fi
 
     # Globals — ACTUAL_USER/ACTUAL_HOME must come before DOCKER_DIR
@@ -238,6 +243,7 @@ networks:
     fi
 
     # Unquoted heredoc; ${...} used for caddy_net vars; all Docker Compose vars escaped with \$
+    backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
     cat > docker-compose.yml << UNIFI_COMPOSE
 name: $PROJECT
 
@@ -286,6 +292,7 @@ configs:
       db.getSiblingDB("\${MONGO_DBNAME}_stat").createUser({user: "\${MONGO_USER}", pwd: "\${MONGO_PASS}", roles: [{role: "\${MONGO_ROLE}", db: "\${MONGO_DBNAME}_stat"}]});
 UNIFI_COMPOSE
 
+    backup_if_exists .env
     cat > .env << UNIFI_ENV
 # ── General ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 TZ=$TZ_VAL

services/uptimekuma.sh

@@ -177,6 +177,11 @@ CBLOCK
             mkdir -p "$_dir"
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
     fi
 
     # Globals — ACTUAL_USER/ACTUAL_HOME must come before DOCKER_DIR
@@ -277,6 +282,7 @@ ${UPTIME_ENV_BLOCK}
 "
     fi
 
+    backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
     cat > docker-compose.yml << UPTIME_COMPOSE
 name: uptime-kuma
 

services/vaultwarden.sh

@@ -194,6 +194,11 @@ CBLOCK
             mkdir -p "$_dir"
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
     fi
 
     # Globals — ACTUAL_USER/ACTUAL_HOME must come before DOCKER_DIR
@@ -420,6 +425,7 @@ networks:
 "
     fi
 
+    backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
     cat > docker-compose.yml << VW_COMPOSE
 name: $CONTAINER
 
@@ -437,6 +443,7 @@ services:
 ${_CADDY_NET_BLOCK}${_CADDY_NET_SECTION}
 VW_COMPOSE
 
+    backup_if_exists .env
     cat > .env << VW_ENV
 # ── General ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 TZ=$TZ_VAL

services/watchtower.sh

@@ -64,6 +64,11 @@ if [[ "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}" == "${0}" ]]; then
             mkdir -p "$_dir"
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
     fi
 
     # Globals — ACTUAL_USER/ACTUAL_HOME must come before DOCKER_DIR
@@ -151,6 +156,7 @@ networks:
 "
     fi
 
+    backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
     cat > docker-compose.yml << WT_COMPOSE
 name: watchtower
 
@@ -179,6 +185,7 @@ ${_CADDY_NET_BLOCK}${_CADDY_NET_SECTION}
 WT_COMPOSE
 
     # Create .env
+    backup_if_exists .env
     cat > .env << WT_ENV
 # Watchtower Configuration
 # =========================

services/watchyourlan.sh

@@ -68,6 +68,11 @@ if [[ "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}" == "${0}" ]]; then
             mkdir -p "$_dir"
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
     fi
 
     # Globals — ACTUAL_USER/ACTUAL_HOME must come before DOCKER_DIR
@@ -126,6 +131,7 @@ install_watchyourlan() {
     prompt_text "GUI port [8840]:" "8840" GUI_PORT
     [ -z "$GUI_PORT" ] && GUI_PORT="8840"
 
+    backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
     cat > docker-compose.yml << 'WYL_COMPOSE'
 name: watchyourlan
 
@@ -141,6 +147,7 @@ services:
       - ./watchyourlan_data:/data
 WYL_COMPOSE
 
+    backup_if_exists .env
     cat > .env << WYL_ENV
 # ── General ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 TZ=$TZ_VAL

services/wg-easy.sh

@@ -199,6 +199,11 @@ CBLOCK
             mkdir -p "$_dir"
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
     fi
 
     # Globals — ACTUAL_USER/ACTUAL_HOME must come before DOCKER_DIR
@@ -302,6 +307,7 @@ networks:
 "
     fi
 
+    backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
     cat > docker-compose.yml << WGEASY_COMPOSE
 name: wg-easy
 
@@ -332,6 +338,7 @@ services:
 ${_CADDY_NET_BLOCK}${_CADDY_NET_SECTION}
 WGEASY_COMPOSE
 
+    backup_if_exists .env
     cat > .env << WGEASY_ENV
 WG_HOST=$WG_HOST
 # Plain-text password — used only if PASSWORD_HASH could not be generated above

services/wolf-pair.sh

@@ -169,6 +169,11 @@ CBLOCK
             mkdir -p "$_dir"
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
     fi
 
     # Globals — ACTUAL_USER/ACTUAL_HOME must come before DOCKER_DIR
@@ -404,6 +409,7 @@ DOCKERFILE
     # network_mode: host — server.py reaches Wolf at localhost:47989 directly.
     # Docker socket (ro) — server.py calls `docker logs wolf` to read secrets.
     log_info "Writing docker-compose.yml..."
+    backup_if_exists "$WOLFPAIR_DIR/docker-compose.yml"
     cat > "$WOLFPAIR_DIR/docker-compose.yml" << 'COMPOSE'
 name: wolf-pair
 

services/wolf.sh

@@ -179,6 +179,11 @@ CBLOCK
             mkdir -p "$_dir"
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
     fi
 
     # Globals — ACTUAL_USER/ACTUAL_HOME must come before DOCKER_DIR
@@ -875,6 +880,7 @@ UDEV
     # if the drive is remounted at a different path. IP/MAC/render-node are
     # baked in at install time because they're hardware-specific and not stored
     # in .env — use 'manage.sh update-network' to regenerate if they change.
+    backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
     cat > docker-compose.yml << EOF
 name: wolf
 
@@ -922,6 +928,7 @@ EOF
     log_success "docker-compose.yml created"
 
     # Save the game storage path so it's visible and editable later
+    backup_if_exists .env
     cat > .env << EOF
 # Wolf game/ROM storage root — edit this and run ./manage.sh update-storage to apply
 GAME_STORAGE_DIR=${GAME_STORAGE_DIR}

services/wordpress.sh

@@ -207,6 +207,11 @@ CBLOCK
             cat > "$_dir/README.md"
             chown "$ACTUAL_USER:$ACTUAL_USER" "$_dir/README.md" 2>/dev/null || true
         }
+        backup_if_exists() {
+            local _file="$1"
+            [ -f "$_file" ] || return 0
+            cp -p "$_file" "${_file}.bak.$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)" 2>/dev/null
+        }
     fi
 
     ACTUAL_USER="${ACTUAL_USER:-${SUDO_USER:-$USER}}"
@@ -361,6 +366,7 @@ PHPINI
 "
     fi
 
+    backup_if_exists docker-compose.yml
     cat > docker-compose.yml << WPCOMPOSE
 name: $CONTAINER
 
@@ -398,6 +404,7 @@ networks:
 ${_CADDY_NET_SECTION}
 WPCOMPOSE
 
+    backup_if_exists .env
     cat > .env << WPENV
 TZ=$TZ_VAL
 CADDY_NET=$SITE_CADDY_NET