Recover an Edge agent after its container was deleted

When the Xyte Edge agent's Docker container has been removed from the host machine — for example after a Docker Desktop reset or reinstall, a WSL reset, or a manual removal — every device behind that Edge goes offline. This guide gets the Edge running again under its original Edge ID.

When to use this

Use this guide only when the container is gone, not merely stopped. To check, open Docker Desktop (Containers) or run on the host machine:

docker ps -a

• If xyte_edge is not listed at all → the container was removed. Continue with the steps below.
• If xyte_edge is listed as Exited or Stopped → it wasn't removed, just stopped. Simply start it and you're done: docker start xyte_edge

Recover the Edge

You keep your existing Edge exactly as it is — you simply install a fresh agent and point it back at your Edge's original ID. There's no need to claim a new Edge, and nothing to delete: the new container reconnects as your original Edge, and its devices come back on their own.

Step 1 — Copy your Edge ID

In the portal, open Edges, click the ⋯ menu on your Edge → Edit Edge, and copy the value shown in the Edge ID field. Keep it handy — you'll paste it in Step 3.

Step 2 — Install the agent (stop before "Connect Edge")

⚠️

Follow the installation guide only until the xyte_edge container is up and running — then STOP. Do not continue to Step 6 ("Connect Edge") and do not enter an Edge ID in the portal.

Step 3 — Set your original Edge ID in proxy_name.txt

Use the method that matches your setup.

Docker Desktop (Windows / macOS) — the file is inside the container, edited from the Files tab:

1. Open Docker Desktop → Containers, and click the xyte_edge container.

2. Open the Files tab.

   

3. Expand xyte → edge_data, and click proxy_name.txt.

4. Click into the editor, select all of the existing text, and replace it with the Edge ID you copied in Step 1 (nothing else — no quotes, no extra spaces or blank lines).

   

5. Click Save changes.

Command line (Linux / macOS / WSL) — from the folder you ran the installer in:

printf '<EDGE_ID>' > edge_data/proxy_name.txt

Step 4 — Restart the container

The agent only reads the Edge ID when it starts, so it must be restarted after the edit.

• Docker Desktop: on the Containers list, use the Restart action on xyte_edge (or Stop, then Start).
• Command line: docker restart xyte_edge

Step 5 — Verify

Within a few minutes your Edge shows Online in the portal under its original ID, and its devices reconnect on their own. If any device doesn't come back, contact Xyte support.