Configuring File-Based Backup using SCP fails with error: "SCP location is invalid"

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:

• When setting up vCenter Server Appliance File-Based Backup using the SCP protocol, the following message is displayed: 

SCP location is invalid

• The appliance has connectivity to the backup location server.
• SCP file transfers succeed from the vCenter shell to the backup location server. 

Environment

VMware vCenter Server Appliance 6.5.x
VMware vCenter Server Appliance 6.7.x

Cause

This issue happens when the target location accepts SCP connections but not SSH; this might arise when using a firewall that filters connections per protocol.

When performing an SCP backup, the vCenter Appliance also requires SSH connectivity through the same port. By default, this is port 22.

Resolution

Ensure that connections to the backup location server via SSH are enabled and allowed. Additionally, the user used for the connection needs to have read/write permissions to the backup location.