How to configure scheduled backups to use a nonexistent backup path

Platform Notice: Data Center Only - This article only applies to Atlassian products on the Data Center platform.

Note that this KB was created for the Data Center version of the product. Data Center KBs for non-Data-Center-specific features may also work for Server versions of the product, however they have not been tested. Support for Server* products ended on February 15th 2024. If you are running a Server product, you can visit the Atlassian Server end of support announcement to review your migration options.

*Except Fisheye and Crucible

Summary

When configuring Bamboo for Specifying a backup schedule, the specified backup path needs to exist and be accessible. This KB article will address how to bypass this security restriction.

Environment

  • Bamboo Data Center

Diagnosis

Bamboo will deny configuring a scheduled backup if the destination directory does not exist or is unreachable.

As specified in Specifying a backup schedule, if the directory exists(locally) but is unreachable, a JVM system property can be provided to allow the operation:

1 -Dbamboo.paths.set.allowed=true

(more context and information on this argument can be found in the link provided).

If the path is non-existent, Bamboo will block the operation and show the message:

image-2022-08-19-10-16-45-554.png

Cause

This is not a bug, but the expected behavior. For security reasons, Bamboo blocks the configuration.

Solution

If the directory is planned to be created in the future, then the following workaround can be applied to bypass this restriction:

  • Stop Bamboo.

  • Open the file <bamboo-shared-home>/configuration/administration.xml.

  • Locate the line with the tag

1 <backupPath>

and input your value:

1 <backupPath>/nonexistent/path</backupPath>
  • Start Bamboo again.

Updated on April 2, 2025

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