Completed scheduled backups data does not appear in the VCF Fleet Lifecycle UI

Products

VMware Cloud Foundation VCF Operations

Issue/Introduction

After configuring scheduled backups for management services within VCF Operations 9.1.x, including log management, identity broker, Salt master, VCF Automation, software depot, the UI shows no record of backups. Fleet logs confirm that the scheduled backup tasks complete successfully without issues, and verification through the Restore UI and SFTP server confirms that backup metadata and physical files exist. Administrators require alternative UI and REST API methods to monitor and view completed component backups.

Environment

VCF Services Runtime 9.1.x
VCF Operations 9.1.x

Cause

Scheduled backup execution tasks for VCF Management Services Platform (VMSP) components are processed asynchronously at the runtime layer and are not surfaced directly in the standard VCF Lifecycle Tasks UI.

Resolution

To monitor backup execution status, available restore points, and storage target paths, use the following UI and REST API alternatives:

Navigate to Build > Lifecycle > VCF Management > Backup & Restore > Restore. Select the VCF Instance to query backup metadata and view all available backup points, timestamps, and components. For details, see Backup Retention Policies for VCF Operations 9.1.x Components / SDDC Manager-NSX Manager
Navigate to Build > Lifecycle > VCF Management > Backup & Restore to verify SFTP target reachability, inspect backup location settings, or trigger on-demand backups.
Navigate to Build > Lifecycle > Tasks and filter task records using the term backup to check execution logs for VCF services runtime components per VCF services runtime is missing recent successful backup
Query Backup Data via REST API:
1. Locate the VCF Services Runtime FQDN under Build > Lifecycle > VCF Management > Components > VCF services runtime FQDN (used for step c).
2. Locate and login to the control plane node using the vmware-system-user account with SSH.
3. Obtain an authentication token from the VCF Management Services Platform (VSP / VCF services runtime) node:
```
export VSP_ADDR='<your_vsp_fqdn>'
export VSP_PASS='<vsp_password>'

export VSP_TOKEN=$(curl -ks -X POST "https://$VSP_ADDR/api/v1/identity/token" \
  -H 'content-type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded' \
  --data grant_type=password \
  --data [email protected] \
  --data password=$VSP_PASS | jq -r '.access_token')
```
4. Query the system backups endpoint to retrieve backup details, timestamps, and SFTP file paths:
```
curl -ks "https://$VSP_ADDR/api/v1/system/backups" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $VSP_TOKEN" | jq
```
Inspect SFTP Target Directory:
Access the configured SFTP server directly and check the target backup directory structure for physical backup metadata and archive files.

Additional Information

For an alternative option using a custom management pack creation and monitoring integration using Management Pack Builder: from Operate > Developer Center > Management Pack Builder

Create a new management pack project and configure an HTTP REST API adapter pointing to the VMSP endpoint (https://<vsp_fqdn>/api/v1/system/backups).
Set up Bearer Token authentication utilizing the identity token endpoint (/api/v1/identity/token).
Parse the JSON response from the backups API to map backup completion status, timestamps, and component health as custom resource metrics and attributes.
Complete the custom Management Pack (PAK file) and install it into VCF Operations to visualize backup health in custom dashboards and alerts.

Related Documentation: