Getting system error with java null pointer exception

[Sachin Narayana]

I've been trying to set-up Confluence Server and am getting a java null pointe exception. This issue started during setup when trying to configure the database connection. Given my database is MySQL, I tried downloading the driver but when I stopped the service, dropped the driver in the location requested and restarted the service, Confluence started giving the error.

java.lang.NullPointerException
    at com.atlassian.confluence.setup.actions.SetupPathsAction.execute(SetupPathsAction.java:48)

Stack Trace:[hide]

java.lang.NullPointerException
	at com.atlassian.confluence.setup.actions.SetupPathsAction.execute(SetupPathsAction.java:48)
	at com.opensymphony.xwork.DefaultActionInvocation.invoke(DefaultActionInvocation.java:168)
	at com.opensymphony.xwork.interceptor.AroundInterceptor.intercept(AroundInterceptor.java:35)
	at com.opensymphony.xwork.DefaultActionInvocation.invoke(DefaultActionInvocation.java:165)
	at com.atlassian.xwork.interceptors.XsrfTokenInterceptor.intercept(XsrfTokenInterceptor.java:120)..........

[Joshua Sneed Contegix · Accepted solution]

Hi Sachin,

There isn't enough information in your post to determine exactly what is happening, but I'll take a guess. Confluence thinks the database is configured because it sees those line in <jira_home>/confluence.cfg.xml, but Confluence isn't able to reach the database for an unknown reason. E.g. bad config, networking, etc.

I propose that you rename or delete <jira_home>/confluence.cfg.xml and restart Confluence. This should restart the setup wizard. You may encounter an error during the database step if the driver is wrong, the driver is in the wrong place, or if your configuration is incorrect. Cheers!

[Sachin Narayana]

Thanks Joshua!