SharePoint backup completes with errors due to excess files
Updated over a week ago

This article applies to:

  • OS: Microsoft 365

  • Product edition: inSync Cloud

Problem description

Backup of the SharePoint folder completes with errors if there are more than 5000 files in the folder.

Cause

When there are more than 5000 files in the SharePoint folder, the site becomes inaccessible to inSync and Microsoft blocks the backup request as a part of its Throttling Performance Policy. Hence, the files are skipped from backup.
inSync displays backup status as Successful with errors on inSync Management Console.

Verification

To verify this issue, log on to Microsoft SharePoint Online and check whether the SharePoint folder has more than 5000 files. SharePoint displays the following error if the file count exceeds 5000.

PreserHoldLibrary.png

To verify the Activity log for Sharepoint site on inSync Management Console:

  1. On the inSync Management Console menu bar, click Data Sources > Microsoft 365. An overview page that provides a holistic view of all the configured Microsoft 365 app appears.

  2. On the left-hand panel, click ShareP oint.

  3. Click the site name and click the activity stream.

  4. Click on the blue drop-down list to download the activity log.
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    ActivityLog.png

Traceback

The Sharepoint activity log on inSync Management Console displays the following traceback.


πŸ’‘ Tip

You can use ' skipping' as the search term in the activity log.



πŸ“ Note
​

{Snip}
[2017-12-03 0302:49,288] [ERROR] Skipping backup of files/folders inside folder 2d0569c0-711a-44e7-951c-050385fe5827 at storage path /XYZ//Preservation Hold Library under site /XYZ/. Error: Number of items inside this folder are more than SharePoint Threshold. Current Files in folder: 7463
[2017-12-03 03:02:49,289] [ERROR] Error in listing at site /XYZ/Storage path /Other Entities/Preservation Hold Library. Error Number of items inside this folder are more than SharePoint Threshold. Current Files in folder: 7463 (#100000001)
[2017-12-03 03:02:49,289] [ERROR] Internal Error on server during folder list. Cloudapp Skipping folder for path: /Other Entities/Preservation Hold Library, Subsite /Other Entities/ resourceid: 2d0569c0-711a-44e7-951c-050385fe5827, error: Number of items inside this folder are more than SharePoint Threshold. Current Files in folder: 7463 (#100000001)
{Snip}

Resolution

Since this is a Microsoft limitation:

  1. Call Microsoft technical support.

  2. Share the error mentioned in the activity log and request to extend the Throttling Policy limit.

  3. Verify whether backup succeeds without errors after extending the Throttling Policy limit.

See also

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