SFTP backup of SDDC manager is failing with error "Save SDDC Manager Backup file to user provided backup location".

Products

• VMware SDDC Manager

Issue/Introduction

• In VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) 5.2.X environments, file-system backups for the SDDC Manager fail consistently. The task console within the SDDC Manager UI displays the following error:
  
  • Save SDDC Manager Backup file to user provided backup location

• When attempting a manual connection from the SDDC Manager shell to the SFTP target using the configured credentials, the connection is rejected.
  
  • sftp username@hostname_or_ip

Environment

• VMware Cloud Foundation 5.2.X

Cause

The SFTP backup user account password has expired on the external SFTP server. SDDC Manager requires a valid, non-expired account to transfer backup bundles. If the password policy on the target SFTP server enforces expiration, the automated backup task will fail once the credential age limit is reached.

Resolution

To resolve this issue, you must reset the password on the SFTP server and then update the SDDC Manager configuration to reflect the new credentials.

• Step 1: Reset the SFTP Account Password
  
  
• Step 2: Update Credentials in SDDC Manager
  • Log in to the SDDC Manager UI as an administrator.
  • Navigate to Administration > Backup Configuration.
  • Select Site Settings
  • Click Edit on the Backup Settings.
  • Update the Password field with the new credentials.
  • Click Save. SDDC Manager will perform a validation check to ensure it can reach the target.
    
    
• Step 3: Verify that the scheduled backups are getting completed.