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Keep it running

Keep the collector available and its data intact across restarts.

Choose a launch method

For a native installation, use the launcher and the service examples in deploy/. For Docker, install Docker with Compose and run from the project directory:

docker compose up -d --build --wait
docker compose exec tgwitness cat /data/panel-token.txt

The default panel listens on the host’s loopback address, port 8787. Open it locally or through an SSH tunnel. Use the token from the second command to unlock the panel.

Keep the whole data directory

Native installations use data/live. Docker uses the persistent tgwitness-data volume. Keep journals, account sessions, keys and operational state together. A signed export is useful evidence, but it is not a full installation backup.

1. Stop collection before taking a consistent backup.
2. Copy the full private data directory to protected storage outside the host.
3. Test restoration into an isolated installation before relying on the backup.

Check after a restart

Confirm the expected workspace and key, Telegram connection, selected sources and new message capture. Saved MTProto state and catch-up help recover updates that Telegram still retains. They cannot reconstruct every expired update or an edit deleted before capture.

Container health means the web server responds. Use a controlled message and a witness check to assess collection and external publication.

Publish only what you intend

The deployment reference includes HTTPS examples, persistent-volume commands, updates and restore steps. Docker commands are provided for deployment; the current validation record identifies the environments actually tested.