Invalid parameter: Validation failed for directory path <directory-path> on server <server-ip-or-fqdn>. Please make sure backup directory is intact and sftp server has write permission on backup path.

Products

• VCF Operations

Issue/Introduction

• SDDC Backup configuration fails with error:
  
  Invalid parameter: Validation failed for directory path <directory-path> on server <server-ip-or-fqdn>. Please make sure backup directory is intact and sftp server has write permission on backup path.


• Logs in /var/log/vmware/vcf/operationsmanager/operationsmanager.log show: SFTP error (SSH_FX_NO_SUCH_FILE) : No such file or Failed to create file path
• When configuring backups in SDDC Manager using a Windows SFTP server, the validation fails even if the path appears correct. This typically occurs when the OpenSSH configuration jails the user to a directory that cannot access the target backup drive.

Environment

• VMware Cloud Foundation 4.x, 5.x, 9.x
• Windows Server using OpenSSH for SFTP

Cause

• Linux SFTP server: Incorrect path specified for Linux backup server. 
• Windows SFTP server: The ChrootDirectory setting in the Windows sshd_config is often enabled by default or set to a specific user profile (e.g., C:\Users\Administrator). This prevents the SDDC Manager from accessing paths on different volumes (e.g., E:\), causing the validation to fail.

Resolution

To resolve this issue please ensure you have the correct backup path specified in the configuration.

Linux SFTP server:

1. Connect to the SFTP server manually as the backup user.
2. Run the pwd command to identify the absolute path of the current directory.
3. In the SDDC Manager UI, navigate to Administration > Backup > Site Settings.
4. Update the Directory Path to include the full path

Windows SFTP server:

1. Log in to the Windows SFTP server.
2. Open the OpenSSH configuration file: C:\ProgramData\ssh\sshd_config.
3. Locate the ChrootDirectory directive.
4. Remove the comment (#) and set it to the root of the backup drive or ensure it is correctly mapped (e.g., ChrootDirectory E:\).
5. Open Services.msc, find OpenSSH SSH Server, and restart the service.
6. In SDDC Manager, verify the path using the absolute format (e.g., /SDDC BACKUP/)

Additional Information

For additional guidance, see Reconfigure SFTP Backups.