“NT_STATUS_ACCESS_DENIED” Error during vCenter VAMI backup using SMB protocol.

Products

• VMware vCenter Server
• VMware vCenter Server 7.0
• VMware vCenter Server 8.0

Issue/Introduction

• vCenter VAMI backup fails while using SMB protocol.
• Log files /var/log/vmware/applmgmt/backupScheduler.log or /var/log/vmware/applmgmt/backup.log will show entries similar to:
  
  [SMBClientStorageIOLib::_process_cmd_output:SMBClientStorageIOLib.py:97] ERROR: Command failed with error: NT_STATUS_ACCESS_DENIED

Environment

vCenter Server 7.x

vCenter Server 8.x

Cause

This issue can be seen if the service account used for VAMI backup has insufficient permissions on the SMB directory used for storing the vCenter backup.

Resolution

Use a different user preferably administrator or user with full admin privileges for storing vCenter backup. 

Additional Information

Common ports for protocols used in VAMI based backups

Configure and Schedule Backups