Generating a Confluence XML Backup fails with 'The system cannot find the path specified'
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
Generating an XML Backup fails with 'The system cannot find the path specified'
Environment
Confluence Server and Data Center
Diagnosis
The following appears in atlassian-confluence.log:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
2020-09-10 11:08:02,606 ERROR [http-nio-80-exec-1295] [atlassian.confluence.servlet.ConfluenceServletDispatcher] sendError Could not execute action
-- referer: http://localhost/admin/backup.action | url: /admin/dobackup.action | traceId: 465ff93b017706f2 | userName: admin
java.io.IOException: The system cannot find the path specified
at java.io.WinNTFileSystem.createFileExclusively(Native Method)
at java.io.File.createNewFile(File.java:1012)
at com.atlassian.core.util.FileUtils.copyFile(FileUtils.java:461)
at com.atlassian.core.util.FileUtils.copyFile(FileUtils.java:397)
at com.atlassian.confluence.importexport.actions.BackupAction.execute(BackupAction.java:69)Cause
The configured backup path does not exist or the user running Confluence does not have proper permissions to the path.
Solution
If a custom backup path (Configuring Backups) is being used, please verify that it exists and that the user running Confluence has full permissions to it.
If a default backup path is used, please verify that the user running Confluence has full permission to <confluence-home-directory>/backups.
Linux
An example of the correct permissions would be:
1
2
sudo chown -R <confluence-user> <confluence-home-folder>
sudo chmod -R u=rwx,g=rx,o=rx <confluence-home-folder>The user confluence is only a suggestion. You can change it for another username.
Windows
Right-click the <Confluence Home> Folder
Select Properties
Select Security
Add the user that is being used to run Confluence with full read and write access
Was this helpful?