Avamar: MSG_ERR_INVALID_PARAMETERS When Enabling Governance Mode
Summary: This article explains the error when enabling governance mode in the Avamar server.
Symptoms
Log in to the Avamar server as admin and enable governance mode:
avmaint config --ava governancemode=true
The following error message appears:
admin@av-server:~/>: avmaint config --ava governancemode=true ERROR: avmaint: config: server_exception(MSG_ERR_INVALID_PARAMETERS) admin@av-server:~/>:
Cause
The current Avamar server is using limited backup feature also known as immutable backups.
Check the gsan log. In Avamar Virtual Edition (AVE) or Avamar Data Store (ADS) Single-Node:
grep -A2 "cannot set governancemode" /data01/cur/gsan.log*
Output:
admin@av-server:~/>: grep -A2 "cannot set governancemode" /data01/cur/gsan.log*
/data01/cur/gsan.log:2025/02/14-14:02:18.59279 {0.0} [srvm-3512514#srv:288] stripedns::gsanconfigdataref::validate cannot set governancemode while immutablebackups is enable
/data01/cur/gsan.log-2025/02/14-14:02:18.59280 {0.0} [srvm-3512514#srv:288] stripedns::gsanconfigdataref::validate bad value=governancemode=true
/data01/cur/gsan.log-2025/02/14-14:02:18.59293 {0.0} [srvm-3512514#srv:288] servloop::execrequest server_exception server_exception(MSG_ERR_INVALID_PARAMETERS) in REQUESTCONFIG
admin@av-server:~/>:
For Avamar Multi-Node, load the ssh keys and run the mapall command:
ssh-agent bash ssh-add ~/.ssh/admin_key mapall --noerror 'grep -A2 "cannot set governancemode" /data01/cur/gsan.log*'
Confirm that the immutable backup is enable:
avmaint config --ava | grep immutablebackups
Output:
admin@av-server:~/>: avmaint config --ava | grep immutablebackups immutablebackups="true" periodimmutablebackups="false" admin@av-server:~/>:
Resolution
Because the immutable backup is irreversible, it is impossible to enable the governance mode in the Avamar server.
Carefully read the Avamar Administration guide and Avamar and Data Domain Integration guide for more information how immutable backups and governance mode works.
Consider setting up a new environment with a fresh Avamar installation.
Design decisions typically exceed Technical Support's scope and are best suited for a consultant, such as those from Dell Professional Services.