Restore fails with error "The backup can't be restored because Tableau Server uses the new identity service tables by default.”

Issue

After backing up Tableau Server version 2021.4 (or earlier) and restoring the backup to Tableau Server 2022.1 (or later), the backup fails to be restored with error:

“The backup can't be restored because Tableau Server uses the new identity service tables by default.”

Environment

Tableau Server versions 2022.1 and later

Resolution

1. On the 2022.1+ version of Tableau Server, run the command:

      tsm authentication legacy-identity-mode enable
      tsm pending-changes apply

This will revert Tableau Server to the legacy identity store.

2. Restore the backup again.

Cause

Newer versions of Tableau Server leverage additional identity tables for authentication flows. New installations are able to populate these tables directly as users get added, and thus should leverage the new tables by default. However, there is no mechanisms to differentiate between a new new install and a backup and restore scenario. In backup and restore scenarios, when user data is restored from prior versions of Tableau Server, the identities have not been migrated and therefore users would not be able to log in.

In-place upgrades have the context to leverage the legacy identity tables by default.