'Error reading from remote server' when trying to create an XML backup in Confluence

Platform Notice: Data Center Only - This article only applies to Atlassian products on the Data Center platform.

Note that this KB was created for the Data Center version of the product. Data Center KBs for non-Data-Center-specific features may also work for Server versions of the product, however they have not been tested. Support for Server* products ended on February 15th 2024. If you are running a Server product, you can visit the Atlassian Server end of support announcement to review your migration options.

*Except Fisheye and Crucible

Summary

Problem

The following appears in web browsers:

1 2 3 The proxy server received an invalid response from an upstream server. The proxy server could not handle the request GET /admin/dobackup.action. Reason: Error reading from remote server

Diagnosis

Confluence is running behind Apache with Mod_Proxy configuration.

Cause

  • The proxy server received an invalid request from Tomcat utilized by Confluence.

  • The web application did not respond in time and the request from Apache timed out.

Solution

Resolution

Increase proxy timeout in Apache mod_proxy.

Updated on April 8, 2025

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