Backup configuration error in the upgrade pre-check- "NSX Backup should not be located on SDDC Manager." - VMware Cloud Foundation

Products

• VMware SDDC Manager / VCF Installer

Issue/Introduction

This article speaks about the NSX Backup Configuration Error encountered during WLD Upgrade Prechecks in VCF environment:

• On VCF Operations 9.x or SDDC Manager 9.x, an NSX-T Backup Configuration error is encountered similar to below:

Storing NSX-T backups on the SDDC Manager appliance creates a single point of failure and resource contention. Always use a dedicated, separate backup target.

• On the SDDC Manager 5.x an NSX Backup location error is encountered similar to below:
   
  NSX backup should not be located on SDDC Manager. Please reconfigure NSX backup to use another location
  
  

Environment

• VMware Cloud Foundation 5.x
• VMware Cloud Foundation 9.x

Cause

The precheck error is encountered when NSX backups are configured to be stored on the SDDC Manager appliance, creating a single point of failure during disaster recovery and causing storage partition and disk I/O contention during lifecycle operations.

Resolution

Configure a dedicated External Backup Server for NSX:

1. Log in to the NSX Manager UI as admin and navigate to System > Backup & Restore.
   
   
2. Edit NSX Backup settings and update the SFTP server IP/FQDN to a dedicated and supported external SFTP backup server.
   
   
3. Save the configuration and perform a manual backup test via Backup Now to confirm successful file transfer.
   
   
4. Return to the SDDC Manager UI and click Retry on the failed NSX-T Backup Configuration Precheck.

Workaround: In case an external supported SFTP server is unavailable, this pre-check error can be ignored to proceed with the upgrade.

Additional Information

Users are responsible for the configuration, backup, and restoration of data as required by their environment's security and compliance policies. Ensure the below requirements are met:

• The external SFTP server is supported, reliable and has sufficient storage capacity.
• The Backup user account has required permissions to read and write to the backup location

For supported SFTP server backup configuration on NSX, refer to Configure Backups