Troubleshooting Common Configuration Issues with Azure Backup

This blog post helps resolve common configuration issues with the Microsoft Cloud Backup Solution, Azure Backup. Customers typically encounter them at the time of Azure Backup installation or registration. Below are suggestions on how to diagnose and resolve the issues.

Azure Backup installation fails with “invalid attributes are specified for the installation folder chosen.”

Trying to install Azure Backup agent in a folder with ’System, Hidden, Compressed, or Encrypted’ attributes set results in “invalid attributes are specified for the installation folder chosen” message.
Please remove the attributes System or Hidden or Compressed or Encrypted on the installation folder. Below is the step by step guide on how to remove the properties for a folder.

1.  Please refer the KB Article remove file and folder encryption in Windows to remove encryption attribute. The steps are applicable for server as well.
2. Please refer the TechNet documentation, compressing and decompressing Folders and Files , on decompressing folders which removes compressed attribute on the folder.
3. Please refer the TechNet documentation, Attributes Volume, to remove the hidden/read-only attributes on the folder.
4. If the Azure Backup Installation Folder location has system attribute, Please create a new folder and install Azure backup at the new folder location.

Azure Backup Registration Fails with “Invalid vault credentials provided. The file is either corrupted or does not have the latest credentials associated with recovery service.”

Trying to register the server with incorrect time settings might result in the below error message.

Please reset the time using “Change date and time settings …” and restart the server.  Below is the detailed guidance to resolve the issue.

1. Please update the date and time settings by referring to set the clock article.
2. Please do ensure to match the local time zone and closet time settings.
3. Restart the server to refresh the registration status of the server. Please do ensure to restart the server, this is common step which can be missed.
4. Register the server to Azure Backup Service.

Azure Backups operations fail with error message “Unable to communicate to authentication service.”

Trying to operate the server which is behind a proxy might result in “Unable to communicate to authentication service”.
Ensure to set the right proxy address. Also, if proxy is authenticated proxy, do specify username and password. Below is the step by step guidance on how to set the proxy server address for Azure Backup.

1. Open the Windows Azure Backup Agent UI.
2. Click on “Change Properties” link on the Actions Tab.                                        
3. Provide the proxy address and port. If it is authenticated proxy, do specify username and password.                                                                                                                                           
4. Click “Ok”. The server should now be able to communicate to Azure Backup Service using the proxy details specified.

We hope this helps to resolve common issues with Azure Backup. For more help with Azure Backup, Azure Backup Support Options are outlined here http://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/support/options/

•  Technical and Billing Support
•  Forum Support