Configuring SDDC Backups fails with error "Provided backup configuration is invalid. Backup encryption spec can not be null"

Products

• VMware SDDC Manager

Issue/Introduction

• Scheduling backup on SDDC fails. 
• Configure backup with internal SFTP through API fails with the error - “INVALID_ENCRYPTION_PASSPHRASE_INPUT" or “Provided encryption is invalid”

Cause

This is expected behavior by design. SDDC Manager cannot be registered as an SFTP server for SDDC and NSX Backups without updating the Backup user password to match with Encryption Passphrase constraints.

Resolution

Configure backup with internal SFTP through API, following the below steps - 

1. Login to the SDDC Manager 
2. Navigate to the Developer Center > API Explorer 
3. Under BackupRestore, use PUT  /v1/system/backup-configuration 
4. Use the input file backupConfigurationSpec and provide all details, for example - 

Input:

{
   "encryption":{
      "passphrase":"password_of_backup_user"
   },
   "backupLocations":[
      {
         "server":"SDDC_IP",
         "port":xx,
         "protocol":"Protocol_Used",
         "username":"backup",
         "password":"password_of_backup_user",
         "directoryPath":"/nfs/vmware/vcf/nfs-mount/backup",
         "sshFingerprint":"ssh_fingerprint_of_sddc_server"
      }
   ]
}