Error: Backup request ignored host is unreachable. Rename and reassign the system on the Agent Configuration Page

Issue

When attempting to start a backup, you receive the error message, "Backup request ignored host is unreachable. Rename and reassign the system on the Agent Configuration Page."

This error message may also present as "Unable to start backup because agent is unreachable."

Environment

  • Datto SIRIS
  • Datto ALTO

Cause

Potential causes include:

  • Datto Windows Agent services are present, but not running on the target machine.
  • Port 25568, the port used by the Datto Windows Agent to communicate with the Datto device, is blocked or filtered. If the Datto Windows agent is running, this port will be listening. Review Getting Started with the Datto Windows Agent for more information.
  • Port 3260, the port used by iSCSI for encrypted backup transfers for the agent, and sometimes backups for the Datto Windows Agent, is blocked or filtered.
  • Port 3262, the primary port used by the Datto Windows Agent for backup transfers, is blocked or filtered.
  • The Datto device cannot contact the protected machine when requesting a snapshot.
  • The Windows firewall is stopped or disabled.

Resolution

Prerequisites

  • If agents paired by hostname are reporting as unreachable, make sure to specify a DNS Search Domain in the Network Configuration User Interface. The Datto appliance will be unable to resolve hostnames without this information.

Procedure

  1. Try to ping the Datto appliance's IP address from the protected machine reporting the error through the Windows Command prompt.
    • If the ping request fails, or if you observe high packet loss, this indicates a networking issue beyond the scope of the Datto appliance. Investigate your network infrastructure for contributing factors.
    • Make sure that the environment of the protected machine and the Datto appliance meets the networking and bandwidth requirements described in this article.
  2. Attempt to ping the protected machine from another machine on the network. Verify that the protected machine's IP address, hostname, or domain name has not changed since its initial pairing with the Datto device. If it has changed, rename the agent on the Configure Agent Settings page of the Datto appliance GUI.
  3. Verify that the Windows Firewall is enabled and running.
  4. Check that your firewall includes the required exceptions defined here, and that it is not blocking or filtering the following required ports 25568 and port 3260
  5. Check that all the following services are in a working, stable state. Restart the services if they are not.
  • Datto Backup Agent Service
  • DattoProvider

If the IP address, FQDN, moRef ID, or VM ID of the protected system has changed, rename or reassign the agent on the Configure Agent Settings page.