Return
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Title
Unable to delete deploy GPOs, Object Reference not set to an instance of an object. -
Description
Cannot deploy a GPO deletion on certain objects.
You receive the following error message:
System.ServiceModel.FaultException`1[System.ServiceModel.ExceptionDetail]: Object reference not set to an instance of an object. (Fault Detail is equal to An ExceptionDetail, likely created by IncludeExceptionDetailInFaults=true, whose value is:System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.at Quest.Avalanche.VersionControl.VersionControlManager.GetSOMLinksFromBackup(Guid controlledObjectId, Guid backUpId)at SyncInvokeGetSOMLinksFromBackup(Object , Object[] , Object[] )at System.ServiceModel.Dispatcher.SyncMethodInvoker.Invoke(Object instance, Object[] inputs, Object[]& outputs)at System.ServiceModel.Dispatcher.DispatchOperationRuntime.InvokeBegin(MessageRpc& rpc)at System.ServiceModel.Dispatcher.ImmutableDispatchRuntime.ProcessMessage5(MessageRpc& rpc)at System.ServiceModel.Dispatcher.ImmutableDispatchRuntime.ProcessMessage11(MessageRpc& rpc)at System.ServiceModel.Dispatcher.MessageRpc.Process(Boolean isOperationContextSet)). -
Cause
This is due to SOM linking checking, which was introduced to allow the action "Rollback with Links" for non-compliant objects.
The backup is checked and the live environment links are verified and removed during a delete deployment.
The affected items likely have a backup that was created before the feature was added, and the link information is missing. -
Resolution
Workaround:
1.
Delete the object from Group Policy management console.
Find the object in GPOADmin, "Reject" the changes if any are pending.
Run a "Compliance Check" and choose the "Unregister" action.2.
"Reject" any pending changes on the GPO, so that it is "Available".
Right-click the GPO and choose "Import".
On the next step, choose "Version Control root", browse to the object in question.
When prompted for the version to import, choose "Live".
This will make a new backup, and put the item into a checked out state.
Check in and deploy the GPO.
Now, the GPO has a baseline backup with all the links stored within.
You can now attempt a delete deployment. -
Additional Information
This is likely to be present on GPOs only that have persisted through an upgrade from 5.13 or earlier to 5.13.5 or later, but the GPO has never been modified within GPOADmin since the upgrade.