Getting error 'NULL' using SWA - how to fix?

[bluemike]

I know this is some kind og Tomcat/Java error, and I have pasted the complete error log below. But the question is, how do I fix it? I am going to try a simple reboot and see if that does any good...

Mike

2005-12-15 10:42:11 StandardContext[/webmail]ip: 192.168.111.7; username: ericwatt@billsblue.com; message: <SOAP-ENV:Fault><faultcode>SOAP-ENV:SERVER.NullPointerException</faultcode><faultstring>null

</faultstring><detail><e:NullPointerException xmlns:e="http://scalix.com/errors"><message>null

</message><debug>java.lang.RuntimeException: stack trace is missing, so inserting new throwable
at com.oddpost.util.GeneralUtils.getStackTrace(GeneralUtils.java:152)
at com.oddpost.soap.SoapFault.&lt;init&gt;(SoapFault.java:135)
at com.oddpost.soap.SoapFault.&lt;init&gt;(SoapFault.java:116)
at com.oddpost.server.HttpRequestHandler.handleRequest(HttpRequestHandler.java:252)
at com.oddpost.server.SoapServlet.doPost(SoapServlet.java:50)
at javax.servlet.http.HttpServlet.service(HttpServlet.java:709)
at javax.servlet.http.HttpServlet.service(HttpServlet.java:802)
at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.internalDoFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:237)
at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.doFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:157)
at com.oddpost.server.filter.HttpConfFilter.doFilter(HttpConfFilter.java:175)
at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.internalDoFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:186)
... skipping the last 25 lines as irrelevant...
Caused by: java.lang.NullPointerException
</debug></e:NullPointerException></detail></SOAP-ENV:Fault>
2005-12-15 10:43:13 StandardContext[/webmail]ip: 192.168.111.7; username: ericwatt@billsblue.com; message: <SOAP-ENV:Fault><faultcode>SOAP-ENV:SERVER.NullPointerException</faultcode><faultstring>null

</faultstring><detail><e:NullPointerException xmlns:e="http://scalix.com/errors"><message>null

</message><debug>java.lang.RuntimeException: stack trace is missing, so inserting new throwable
at com.oddpost.util.GeneralUtils.getStackTrace(GeneralUtils.java:152)
at com.oddpost.soap.SoapFault.&lt;init&gt;(SoapFault.java:135)
at com.oddpost.soap.SoapFault.&lt;init&gt;(SoapFault.java:116)
at com.oddpost.server.HttpRequestHandler.handleRequest(HttpRequestHandler.java:252)
at com.oddpost.server.SoapServlet.doPost(SoapServlet.java:50)
at javax.servlet.http.HttpServlet.service(HttpServlet.java:709)
at javax.servlet.http.HttpServlet.service(HttpServlet.java:802)
at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.internalDoFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:237)
at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.doFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:157)
at com.oddpost.server.filter.HttpConfFilter.doFilter(HttpConfFilter.java:175)
at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.internalDoFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:186)
... skipping the last 25 lines as irrelevant...
Caused by: java.lang.NullPointerException
</debug></e:NullPointerException></detail></SOAP-ENV:Fault>
2005-12-15 10:43:44 StandardContext[/webmail]ip: 192.168.111.7; username: ericwatt@billsblue.com; message: <SOAP-ENV:Fault><faultcode>SOAP-ENV:SERVER.NullPointerException</faultcode><faultstring>null

</faultstring><detail><e:NullPointerException xmlns:e="http://scalix.com/errors"><message>null

</message><debug>java.lang.RuntimeException: stack trace is missing, so inserting new throwable
at com.oddpost.util.GeneralUtils.getStackTrace(GeneralUtils.java:152)
at com.oddpost.soap.SoapFault.&lt;init&gt;(SoapFault.java:135)
at com.oddpost.soap.SoapFault.&lt;init&gt;(SoapFault.java:116)
at com.oddpost.server.HttpRequestHandler.handleRequest(HttpRequestHandler.java:252)
at com.oddpost.server.SoapServlet.doPost(SoapServlet.java:50)
at javax.servlet.http.HttpServlet.service(HttpServlet.java:709)
at javax.servlet.http.HttpServlet.service(HttpServlet.java:802)
at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.internalDoFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:237)
at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.doFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:157)
at com.oddpost.server.filter.HttpConfFilter.doFilter(HttpConfFilter.java:175)
at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.internalDoFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:186)
... skipping the last 25 lines as irrelevant...
Caused by: java.lang.NullPointerException
</debug></e:NullPointerException></detail></SOAP-ENV:Fault>
2005-12-15 10:44:14 StandardContext[/webmail]ip: 192.168.111.7; username: ericwatt@billsblue.com; message: <SOAP-ENV:Fault><faultcode>SOAP-ENV:SERVER.NullPointerException</faultcode><faultstring>null

</faultstring><detail><e:NullPointerException xmlns:e="http://scalix.com/errors"><message>null

</message><debug>java.lang.RuntimeException: stack trace is missing, so inserting new throwable
at com.oddpost.util.GeneralUtils.getStackTrace(GeneralUtils.java:152)
at com.oddpost.soap.SoapFault.&lt;init&gt;(SoapFault.java:135)
at com.oddpost.soap.SoapFault.&lt;init&gt;(SoapFault.java:116)
at com.oddpost.server.HttpRequestHandler.handleRequest(HttpRequestHandler.java:252)
at com.oddpost.server.SoapServlet.doPost(SoapServlet.java:50)
at javax.servlet.http.HttpServlet.service(HttpServlet.java:709)
at javax.servlet.http.HttpServlet.service(HttpServlet.java:802)
at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.internalDoFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:237)
at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.doFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:157)
at com.oddpost.server.filter.HttpConfFilter.doFilter(HttpConfFilter.java:175)
at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.internalDoFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:186)
... skipping the last 25 lines as irrelevant...
Caused by: java.lang.NullPointerException
</debug></e:NullPointerException></detail></SOAP-ENV:Fault>
2005-12-15 11:28:56 StandardContext[/webmail]ip: 192.168.111.7; username: ericwatt@billsblue.com; message: <SOAP-ENV:Fault><faultcode>SOAP-ENV:SERVER.NullPointerException</faultcode><faultstring>null

</faultstring><detail><e:NullPointerException xmlns:e="http://scalix.com/errors"><message>null

</message><debug>java.lang.RuntimeException: stack trace is missing, so inserting new throwable
at com.oddpost.util.GeneralUtils.getStackTrace(GeneralUtils.java:152)
at com.oddpost.soap.SoapFault.&lt;init&gt;(SoapFault.java:135)
at com.oddpost.soap.SoapFault.&lt;init&gt;(SoapFault.java:116)
at com.oddpost.server.HttpRequestHandler.handleRequest(HttpRequestHandler.java:252)
at com.oddpost.server.SoapServlet.doPost(SoapServlet.java:50)
at javax.servlet.http.HttpServlet.service(HttpServlet.java:709)
at javax.servlet.http.HttpServlet.service(HttpServlet.java:802)
at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.internalDoFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:237)
at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.doFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:157)
at com.oddpost.server.filter.HttpConfFilter.doFilter(HttpConfFilter.java:175)
at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.internalDoFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:186)
... skipping the last 25 lines as irrelevant...
Caused by: java.lang.NullPointerException
</debug></e:NullPointerException></detail></SOAP-ENV:Fault>
2005-12-15 13:38:02 StandardContext[/webmail]ip: 192.168.111.4; username: ericwatt@billsblue.com; message: <SOAP-ENV:Fault><faultcode>SOAP-ENV:SERVER.NullPointerException</faultcode><faultstring>null

</faultstring><detail><e:NullPointerException xmlns:e="http://scalix.com/errors"><message>null

</message><debug>java.lang.RuntimeException: stack trace is missing, so inserting new throwable
at com.oddpost.util.GeneralUtils.getStackTrace(GeneralUtils.java:152)
at com.oddpost.soap.SoapFault.&lt;init&gt;(SoapFault.java:135)
at com.oddpost.soap.SoapFault.&lt;init&gt;(SoapFault.java:116)
at com.oddpost.server.HttpRequestHandler.handleRequest(HttpRequestHandler.java:252)
at com.oddpost.server.SoapServlet.doPost(SoapServlet.java:50)
at javax.servlet.http.HttpServlet.service(HttpServlet.java:709)
at javax.servlet.http.HttpServlet.service(HttpServlet.java:802)
at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.internalDoFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:237)
at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.doFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:157)
at com.oddpost.server.filter.HttpConfFilter.doFilter(HttpConfFilter.java:175)
at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.internalDoFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:186)
... skipping the last 25 lines as irrelevant...
Caused by: java.lang.NullPointerException
</debug></e:NullPointerException></detail></SOAP-ENV:Fault>

[ScalixSupport]

Can you give us some context as to what the client is doing at the time ? Also, do you see anything in the Scalix server fatal file in /var/opt/scalix/logs/fatal ?

Cheers

Dave

[bluemike]

The user had sucessfully logged into their webmail account when the 'null' message came up. This account had always worked flawlessly until last night. The inbox says there are 35 unread messages, but only a dozen or so appear in the inbox. I know for a fact that there are well over 50 message (read and unread) in that users inbox.

I have pasted the fatal logs as you suggested. I think the first one listed is the only relevant one, since everything afterwards was from just a few minutes ago.

SERIOUS ERROR Internet Mail (Incoming ) 12.14.05 17:48:56
[OM.UX 1401] Cannot read message data.
Pid of logging process: 14723


ERROR SMTP Relay (SMTPD Relay Pr) 12.16.05 08:45:59
[OM.DMON 2170] Failed to record starting.
Pid of logging process: 13005


ERROR SMTP Relay (SMTPD Relay Pr) 12.16.05 08:45:59
[OM.DMON 2170] Failed to record starting.
Pid of logging process: 13003


ERROR SMTP Relay (SMTPD Relay Pr) 12.16.05 08:45:59
[OM 0]
Pid of logging process: 13003


ERROR SMTP Relay (SMTPD Relay Pr) 12.16.05 08:45:59
[OM 0]
Pid of logging process: 13005


ERROR SMTP Relay (SMTPD Relay Pr) 12.16.05 08:46:03
[OM.DMON 2170] Failed to record starting.
Pid of logging process: 13009


ERROR SMTP Relay (SMTPD Relay Pr) 12.16.05 08:46:03
[OM 0]
Pid of logging process: 13009


ERROR SMTP Relay (SMTPD Relay Pr) 12.16.05 08:46:03
[OM.DMON 2170] Failed to record starting.
Pid of logging process: 13007


ERROR SMTP Relay (SMTPD Relay Pr) 12.16.05 08:46:03
[OM 0]
Pid of logging process: 13007


ERROR SMTP Relay (SMTPD Relay Pr) 12.16.05 08:46:06
[OM.DMON 2170] Failed to record starting.
Pid of logging process: 13013


ERROR SMTP Relay (SMTPD Relay Pr) 12.16.05 08:46:06
[OM 0]
Pid of logging process: 13013


ERROR SMTP Relay (SMTPD Relay Pr) 12.16.05 08:46:06
[OM.DMON 2170] Failed to record starting.
Pid of logging process: 13011


ERROR SMTP Relay (SMTPD Relay Pr) 12.16.05 08:46:06
[OM 0]
Pid of logging process: 13011

[bluemike]

After reading a few of the other posts regarding this 'null' error, I began to think it may be caused by a mis-formed message. So I logged into the users email via Outlook (using IMAP) and deleted all the spam. Now all is well again.

But I would still like know why this happened and how I can prevent it from happening again.

[ScalixSupport]

Hi,

You are correct in that the problem message had invalid MIME content, and the way in which you resolved the problem was indeed the correct way.

Unfortuantely, there is no way to prevent this from happening again, short of ensuring all spam messages never reach the Inbox (we've noticed that these messages are typically, but not always, to blame).

The next version of Scalix will handle situations like this much more gracefully. It will be more resilient when it comes to these messages, and if it can't handle a particular message, it won't mess up the entire Inbox.

Regards,

Matthew
Support