Casper Admin in Lion

[jyoung]

I just created a VM of Lion and have been trying to launch Casper Admin in the vm. I keep getting an error that says "An exception of class NilObjectException was not handled. The application must shut down." Any suggestions? I am running Casper Admin version 8.43on Lion 10.7.3.

[MikeF]

I have run into this before and I have deleted casper suite and reinstalled it and got it working.

[techmchs]

I'm having this same issue.. Only running imaging server not the whole suite.

Imaging server ver 8.43 is on an xserve running 10.6.8

Client is running lion 10.7.3

I get this same error, NilObjectException when trying to launch casper admin...

Anyone found a solution for this? Also what is the procedure for uninstalling casper suite ? thanks

[jarednichols]

In general I've found some general instability/bugginess when running Lion in a VM.

[techmchs]

Just checked on a snow leopard client.. casper admin launches fine.. anyone else having issues running casper admin on a Lion client connecting to a JSS server on a snow leopard server?

[rob_potvin]

No problems here. Lion and a 10.6.8 server.

[techmchs]

Hmmm.. weird ok.. what is the best way to Uninstall JSS server version 8.43 so I can start fresh?

Now that the JSS setup utility doesn't exist.. not sure of the process.

[jyoung]

I forgot to say I am not running the full suite, only the imaging suite. Get same error when running from my production laptop (which is 10.7.3). To install I did was copy the Casper Admin to the Applications folder.

[techmchs]

Not working for me.. I tried everything.. even a fresh install..works fine if I run casper admin on SL client.. but if I run on Lion client.. get the exception error..

[freezig]

I got that error a few times last week. I think the CasperShare was already mounted on the client (server/Shared Items/CasperShare) or maybe it was mounted on the server; once I ejected it, Casper Admin launched.

[techmchs]

first sorry to the OP didn't mean to hijack.. didn't see you were running a VM.. this is not a VM client.. so I do not think it is particular to your setup... same error at any rate..

It mounts the distribution point fine for me.. but fails right after.. not mounted on the server..

I have 2 laptops on my desk.. one running 10.6.8 and on running 10.7.3.. works fine on 10.6.8 launches normally.. totally wiped the server yesterday and got the same error from Lion with a fresh server and fresh distribution point.. so there is a bug on this with Lion.. only real explanation..

also I am running casper imaging on an xserve running SL 10.6.8 not a lion server...

[rob_potvin]

Just a quick question but are you guys using a root user? Also have you checked your read/write and read only users in your JSS, trying to mount your CasperShare with those two users and seeing your results? On both 10.6.8 and 10.7

Cheers

[techmchs]

Sorry can you clarify.. a root user for what? to launch casper admin?

Read/Write users are working fine..

Looks like it gets to the point where it, casper admin, says its checking deleted scripts.. then throws that error.

Thanks!:)

[rob_potvin]

Sorry I mean on the machine that you are trying to use Casper admin, in Lion there are problems when a user is root trying to mount shares.

have you repaired permissions on your share? a quick chown specially on the deleted scripts folder...

[techmchs]

permissions are good.. as I said, I set it up yesterday from scratch, different distribution point.. same error.

thanks for your help:)

[evarona]

With regards to the OP, I'm having a similar problem on physical.

I'm running a JSS 8.43 Master and second distribution point. Both are Minis running 10.6.8 server. I'm running 10.7.3 client from a MBP. I'm trying to replicate packages to the secondary site from Casper Admin installed on my MBP.

Shortly after Casper Admin starts the sync, I keep getting "An exception of class NilObjectException was not handled." Casper Admin quits but the connection to the 2 servers remain.

I've tried dropping these connections & rebooting my MBP, rebooting both servers and cleaning up deleted packages. No love. The only thing that works is running Admin from a different 10.6.8 machine. And once I sync'd from 10.6.8, it magically worked again from my Lion MBP.

The only thing that's new are a few new packages and a compiled OS config of Lion (J-nation article #173). Could these be a problem? There's plenty of disk space on both Minis and the link between them in gig-E. Anyone else having similar issues?

[techmchs]

It's obviously a jamf issue.. I reinstalled on a fresh server and got the same error.. its buggy in lion when running JSS on a 10.6.8 server.. no question.. doesn't work at all for me.. I opened a support case but they were no help and rather than continue they simply closed the case!

I guess I'll wait until the next release????

For now I have to keep a dedicated snow leopard laptop to run casper admin..

[rob_potvin]

I am sorry but I don't think that it is just a buggy jamf issue and to be honest I find you blaming jamf (come on mate the company has awesome support) a little low, specially here on jamf nation.

I have the same setup!!!

I have 10.6.8 clients and 10.7.3 clients that I use the Casper Admin on all the time and I have a 10.6.8 server with JSS server installed. I don't get crashes and everything is working fine. There is an issue but I am not sure its buggy jamf, could be one small variable that you have that I don't, and us comparing notes probably could solve.

Do you have the developer tools installed? Maybe you can run instruments with Casper admin and we can compair notes. I can too...

Since I am having no problems, and did try to help it could be a configuration issue, hence me trying to solve this. :-) call me brave heart ! Jokes

[bentoms]

No probs here but 10.7 server & client.

Out of interest, have you trashed your Casper app's plists? Does remote connect fine on the same mac to the JSS? Have you verified the permissions are correct on the Casper apps?

[techmchs]

Yes, I have trashed plists.. re downloaded the app.. tried from multiple workstations. permissions seem fine..

did you mean casper remote? I'm only using the imaging suite atm..

As far as the previous posters issue with me "blaming" jamf.. .... not blaming them just stating the facts.. am I not allowed to have a dissenting voice here? Hoping they see this and look into it because I believe its an issue with their, jamfs software..

They closed the case .. its still not working.. I believe its an issue with casper admin.. sure it could be some configuration on my server.. but the bottom line is it should still work.. if not, they should help me through it until it does.. other people are having this issue.. thanks for your nonconstructive over defensive advice... and my apologies to JAMF for defaming their corporate personhood:)

[rob_potvin]

"their corporate personhood:)" LOL.

I guess I sound like that but really was trying to make a point.

[jyoung]

Just a quick update. I got Casper Admin to run from my MBP (running 10.7.3). I had to turn off wifi card and just use ethernet and I was able to connect. However, I still cannot get it to launch from a VM. I have tried all three settings in VMware Fusion (NAT, Bridge, and Local Host) with no success. Both NAT and Local Host error out immediately. Bridge will get to the point to mount the share then give theNilObjectException error. Main reason I was hoping to use a VM was to take snapshots pre installs so I was always working from a "clean" system. At least this way I can create them in the VM, move them to my MBP, then to Casper Admin.

[techmchs]

Well, Just figured out my issue.. still not sure why.. need more time to sort the details.. but in my case if I'm bound to our open directory server..which is a snow leopard server.. I get that error... If I unbind the client from the OD Casper Admin Launches fine..no error..Looks like the search path might be funky..anyway thanks for those who chimed in.. If I find any further answers as to why.. I'll be sure and follow up!:)

Follow up: Ok think I found the issue.. The server that JSS is installed on was once an ical/mail server.. this server is bound to our OD master open dir server..something I had forgot about:0... so when the client is bound to the OD it's looking in the OD search path for the user and the host and not finding them... I havnt yet tried to unbind the server yet... anyway..thought I would let you know.

Thanks for your help...

[leslie]

While attempting to replicate the CasperShare to a local (boot) drive I was also getting 'An exception of class NilObjectException was not handled. The application must shut down.' - running Casper Admin (8.51) in Lion. Once I allowed the local admin account read/write to the root of my boot volume the error no longer appeared and replication functioned as expected.

[rhs615]

I have tried all of the suggestions so far, and still no luck. Clean Lion OS Install to VM and then migrated all data from a Time Machine backup to the VM. Even on a fresh account, still get the error.

Anyone find a fix yet?

[cjinphilly]

I had the same exception last week on a lion client . Turned out to be restrictive SACLs on my JAMF Lion server. Guess it was the AFP restriction that caused Admin to crash when it tried to mount the CasperShare..