How do I troubleshoot an AWS Backup job stuck in the EXPIRED status?

Short description

AWS Backup creates a job that provides details about the process when you back up your AWS resources.

The Complete within parameter defines the time that a backup's data transfer must finish. If the data transfer doesn't complete within this parameter, then AWS Backup cancels the backup and sets the status to EXPIRED.

The EXPIRED status is a final status, not a transitional status such as RUNNING. An expired backup job doesn't produce a usable recovery point. AWS Backup doesn't back up data for that window, and the resource remains unprotected until the next successful backup completes.

For more information, see Backup job statuses and Backup plan options and configuration.

Resolution

Identify the cause of the expired backup job

Complete the following steps:

1. Open the AWS Backup console.
2. In the navigation pane, choose Jobs.
3. On the Backup jobs tab, enter or choose Status = Expired in the search box.
4. Choose an expired job and review the error message and job details.
5. Based on your error message, choose one of the following resolutions:
   If you receive "Backup Job did not complete within completion window" or "An AWS Backup job failed to complete in time," then see Increase the Complete within value.
   If you receive "Backup job failed because there was a running job for the same resource," then see Adjust backup schedules to prevent overlapping jobs.

Increase the Complete within value

To prevent backup jobs from expiring, increase the Complete within value in your backup rule.

Complete the following steps:

1. Open the AWS Backup console.
2. In the navigation pane, choose Backup plans.
3. Under Backup plan name, choose your backup plan.
4. In the Backup rules section, select the rule, and then choose Edit.
5. Choose Customize backup window.
6. Increase the Complete within value.
7. Choose Save backup rule.

Note: The default Complete within value is 7 days. Increase this value if your backups are large or if overlapping backup schedules delay the start of subsequent jobs.

Adjust backup schedules to prevent overlapping jobs

AWS Backup doesn't run two backup jobs for the same resource at the same time. If a scheduled backup is ready to start but a previous job is still running on the same resource, then the new job waits for the previous job to complete before it starts.

Important: The completion window counts from the scheduled start time, not from when the job starts. If the waiting period consumes too much of the completion window, then the job fails with the EXPIRED status.

Complete the following steps to adjust your backup schedules:

1. Open the AWS Backup console.
2. In the navigation pane, choose Backup plans.
3. Under Backup plan name, choose your backup plan.
4. Review the Backup rules section for rules with overlapping start windows.
5. Adjust the Frequency or Start within value to reduce overlap between rules that use the same resource.
6. Choose Save backup rule.