SFTP Authorizated key not file not found error - " Error opening the authorized keys file at /.ssh/authorized_keys: file does not exist"

Products

• VMware vDefend Firewall
• VMware vDefend Firewall with Advanced Threat Prevention
• VMware vDefend Network Detection and Response

Issue/Introduction

Following error observed on UI when saving SFTP server- ": "error opening the authorized keys file at /.ssh/authorized_keys: file does not exist

Cluster-api logs
2025-12-29T10:08:45Z cluster-api--SSP SSP [ssp@4413 comp="SSP" level="INFO" s2comp="sftp/sftp.go:104" subcomp="SSP"] starting SFTP client in:  {"wd":"/"}
2025-12-29T10:08:45Z cluster-api--SSP  SSP [ssp@4413 comp="SSP" level="INFO" s2comp="sftp/sftp.go:116" subcomp="SSP"] SFTP client created successfully
2025-12-29T10:08:45Z cluster-api-696674bb56-7wsg2 SSP 3 SSP [ssp@4413 comp="SSP" level="INFO" s2comp="br/validator.go:169" subcomp="SSP"] ping SFTP server

2025-12-29T10:08:45Z cluster-api--SSP  SSP [ssp@4413 comp="SSP" level="INFO" s2comp="sftp/sftp.go:680" subcomp="SSP"] Server home dir: /
2025-12-29T10:08:45Z cluster-api--SSP  SSP [ssp@4413 comp="SSP" level="ERROR" s2comp="br/request_validator.go:61" subcomp="SSP"] Failed to update authorized keys file {"error":"error opening the authorized keys file at /.ssh/authorized_keys: file does not exist"}

Environment

SSP 5.0,5.1

Cause

The home directory was set to  " / " on windows server where the /.ssh/ authorized_keys file is missing as the /.ssh/ authorized_keys file path was set under a different directory.

Resolution

Moving the /.ssh/ authorized_keys  folder to the "/" directory has resolved the issue, and the files are now being verified correctly.
SFTP configuration has been saved and backup successful.