Problem

1. Confluence was migrated from a different server that enforces strict file permission

2. Daily backup failed with the following error in the atlassian-confluence.log:

   2011-02-16 13:08:33,092 ERROR [http-8090-1] [atlassian.confluence.servlet.ConfluenceServletDispatcher] 
   sendError Could not execute action
    -- referer: http://<confluenceURL>/confluence/admin/backup.action | url: 
   /confluence/admin/dobackup.action | userName: admin
   java.io.IOException: Permission denied
   	at java.io.UnixFileSystem.createFileExclusively(Native Method)
   	at java.io.File.createNewFile(File.java:883)
   	at com.atlassian.core.util.FileUtils.copyFile(FileUtils.java:465)
   	at com.atlassian.core.util.FileUtils.copyFile(FileUtils.java:401)
   	at com.atlassian.confluence.importexport.actions.BackupAction.execute(BackupAction.java:79)
   :
   

3. In confluence.cfg.xml, custom folder location for daily backup is disabled:

       <property name="admin.ui.allow.daily.backup.custom.location">false</property>
   

4. Manual backup works fine

5. <Confluence Home folder>/backups belongs to the correct Confluence user and contains the correct file permission:

   drwxr-xr-x   2 confluence  staff    68 18 Feb 08:20 backups
   

Diagnosis

• Check for Confluence backup path in http://<confluence url>/admin/dailybackupadmin.action and you will notice it is set to a different folder - this, despite that custom directory location is disabled.

• Check what is the <backupPath> value stored in the database.

select BANDANAVALUE from BANDANA where BANDANAKEY = 'atlassian.confluence.settings';

Resolution

1. Set the setting to true again in confluence.cfg.xml:

   <property name="admin.ui.allow.daily.backup.custom.location">true</property>
   

2. Restart Confluence
3. Go to http://<confluence url>/admin/dailybackupadmin.action and edit the setting. Change the location to what it should be.

See also CONFSERVER-21844 - admin.ui.allow.daily.backup.custom.location still allows Confluence to create backup to custom location even if it's set to false

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