Peer comparison and Restore

A peer archive is another cataloged copy whose evidence may help explain or repair the archive you are reviewing.

Compare before writing

Peer comparison can show where another archive has matching or different checksum evidence and can help identify a desired version. Comparison itself does not change archive files.

Treat peer results as evidence, not as automatic truth. A peer copy is only as trustworthy as the evidence and history you have for it.

Restore is a controlled write

Restore is deliberately separate from ordinary read-only work. It writes a selected desired version to the target archive through the controlled-write workflow.

Archive Witness stages and verifies the replacement before committing it and retains evidence about the operation. A successful Restore is intended to leave the target file equal to the selected source version, but it is not a substitute for independent backups.

Review the combined effect

Restore can affect file content and the evidence associated with the restored version. Read the confirmation carefully: the source and target paths, selected version, verification requirements, and resulting catalog effects should all match your intent.

If the operation cannot be completed and verified safely, Archive Witness is designed to fail without silently presenting an unverified replacement as successful.