Portal backup failing because properties.json file missing from the content directory

[LeoFothergillMTA]

When attempting to back up our Portal (11.1) I received the following error:

{"error":{"code":500,"details":null,"message":"Failed to export site. Export of the Portal repository failed. The content directory has no properties.json file under the portal directory."}}

On our Portal server under C:\arcgisportal\content  there is no 'properties.json' file.  There is only a folder called 'items' and a file called 'site-key.json' 

Does anyone know how to generate that file or why it could be missing?

[CuyahogaGIS · Accepted solution]

I just received this error last week. The properties.json file was in a folder that was in the content directory.  This was the same location it was in on another Portal that did not throw the error. I only saw the error one time, webgisdr has worked fine since. I suspect it was a temporary network issue.

[LeoFothergillMTA]

Thanks for the reply.  The properties.json file was in the \arcgisportal\content\items\portal directory as the other commenter had suggested.

I was able to successfully complete the backup this evening so it could have been a network issue as you stated.

One thing I did change since the error was to get my IT to increase the storage capacity of the C: drive on the server where Portal is installed as it was getting close (within 10GB) to capacity.  This C: drive is not where the shared location or the backup location is but I thought it worth documenting here in case others come across this issue as a potential solution.

[JakeSkinner]

@LeoFothergillMTA just any FYI, here is a link highlighting where each applications backup is created before being moved to the shared and backup locations.

[JakeSkinner]

Hi @LeoFothergillMTA,

Check if there is a properties.json file in the \arcgisportal\content\items\portal directory.

[LeoFothergillMTA]

Jake, yes there is a properties.json file in that location.