That error is caused by the web interface not having a good connection string to your database.  This could be caused by a bad or missing registry key, or an IIS configuration issue from Sessions not being properly set up (could be other things too, but those are the two most likely causes that I know of).  First check your DSNs by running Odbcad32.exe (If you're on a 64bit system, make sure you're running the one in the windows\SysWOW64 directory).  Make sure your DSNs for WUG and NetFlow (If you've got netflow) are present and correct under the "system" tab. Check to make sure you've got valid connection strings in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/<SysWOW64 if you're on a 64bit machine>/Ipswitch/Network Monitor/WhatsUp Engine/Database Settings.  You should have a DSN key that corresponds to the WUG DSN in your Odbcad32 settings, a DSN_Netflow that corresponds to the Netflow DSN, a DataSource_WhatsUp key that basically contains the same info as the WUG DSN, and a DataSource_NetFlow key that contains the same info as the Netflow DSN.

As for IIS, if you're using IIS 7 or 7.5, just check the "Session State" settings for your NmConsole application.  It should be set to "In Process."  If you're using IIS6, you can find instructions for enabling session state here: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/WindowsServer2003/Library/IIS/042a5242-f5b0-4fe0-b614-18eded88ab7c.mspx?mfr=true

Cheers - DNS and Session State appear to be ok (this is 2K3 IIS6; non-default website; 8080) 

 Anything else to check? I tried a repair install - same deal 

Also throwing up an ASP.NET 4.0.303.19.0 event 

Event Type: WarningEvent Source: ASP.NET 4.0.30319.0Event Category: Web Event Event ID: 1309Date: 22/06/2011Time: 2:57:12 PMUser: N/AComputer: CHOMANAGE2Description:Event code: 3005 Event message: An unhandled exception has occurred. Event time: 22/06/2011 2:57:12 PM Event time (UTC): 22/06/2011 6:57:12 PM Event ID: 4d2c66cb308f4ef79021e03f851a7ccf Event sequence: 22 Event occurrence: 20 Event detail code: 0  Application information:     Application domain: /LM/W3SVC/763728378/Root/NmConsole-2-129532412697041140     Trust level: Full     Application Virtual Path: /NmConsole     Application Path: C:\Program Files\Ipswitch\WhatsUp Professional\HTML\Nm.Web.UI\     Machine name: CHOMANAGE2  Process information:     Process ID: 5704     Process name: aspnet_wp.exe     Account name: CHOMANAGE2\ASPNET  Exception information:     Exception type: ArgumentNullException     Exception message: Value cannot be null.Parameter name: fileOrServerOrConnection   at WUGDataAccess.WebDataAccess.DBApi.GlobalSettings.GetGlobalSetting(String context, String name)   at Nm.Web.Mvc.DataCache.<GetGlobalCache>b__0(String context, String name)   at Nm.Web.Cache.Global[T](String name)   at Nm.Web.Mvc.InstallService.get_InstallStep()   at Nm.Web.UI.Controllers.UserController.Login(String returnUrl)   at lambda_method(Closure , ControllerBase , Object[] )   at System.Web.Mvc.ActionMethodDispatcher.Execute(ControllerBase controller, Object[] parameters)   at System.Web.Mvc.ReflectedActionDescriptor.Execute(ControllerContext controllerContext, IDictionary`2 parameters)   at System.Web.Mvc.ControllerActionInvoker.InvokeActionMethod(ControllerContext controllerContext, ActionDescriptor actionDescriptor, IDictionary`2 parameters)   at System.Web.Mvc.ControllerActionInvoker.<>c__DisplayClass15.<InvokeActionMethodWithFilters>b__12()   at System.Web.Mvc.ControllerActionInvoker.InvokeActionMethodFilter(IActionFilter filter, ActionExecutingContext preContext, Func`1 continuation)   at System.Web.Mvc.ControllerActionInvoker.<>c__DisplayClass15.<>c__DisplayClass17.<InvokeActionMethodWithFilters>b__14()   at System.Web.Mvc.ControllerActionInvoker.InvokeActionMethodWithFilters(ControllerContext controllerContext, IList`1 filters, ActionDescriptor actionDescriptor, IDictionary`2 parameters)   at System.Web.Mvc.ControllerActionInvoker.InvokeAction(ControllerContext controllerContext, String actionName)   at System.Web.Mvc.Controller.ExecuteCore()   at System.Web.Mvc.ControllerBase.Execute(RequestContext requestContext)   at System.Web.Mvc.ControllerBase.System.Web.Mvc.IController.Execute(RequestContext requestContext)   at System.Web.Mvc.MvcHandler.<>c__DisplayClass6.<>c__DisplayClassb.<BeginProcessRequest>b__5()   at System.Web.Mvc.Async.AsyncResultWrapper.<>c__DisplayClass1.<MakeVoidDelegate>b__0()   at System.Web.Mvc.Async.AsyncResultWrapper.<>c__DisplayClass8`1.<BeginSynchronous>b__7(IAsyncResult _)   at System.Web.Mvc.Async.AsyncResultWrapper.WrappedAsyncResult`1.End()   at System.Web.Mvc.MvcHandler.<>c__DisplayClasse.<EndProcessRequest>b__d()   at System.Web.Mvc.SecurityUtil.<GetCallInAppTrustThunk>b__0(Action f)   at System.Web.Mvc.SecurityUtil.ProcessInApplicationTrust(Action action)   at System.Web.Mvc.MvcHandler.EndProcessRequest(IAsyncResult asyncResult)   at System.Web.Mvc.MvcHandler.System.Web.IHttpAsyncHandler.EndProcessRequest(IAsyncResult result)   at System.Web.HttpApplication.CallHandlerExecutionStep.System.Web.HttpApplication.IExecutionStep.Execute()   at System.Web.HttpApplication.ExecuteStep(IExecutionStep step, Boolean& completedSynchronously)
  Request information:     Request URL: http://chomanage2:8080/NmConsole/User/Login?ReturnUrl=/NmConsole/Workspace/HomeWorkspace/HomeWorkspace.asp     Request path: /NmConsole/User/Login     User host address: 10.11.20.100     User:      Is authenticated: False     Authentication Type:      Thread account name: CHOMANAGE2\ASPNET  Thread information:     Thread ID: 4     Thread account name: CHOMANAGE2\ASPNET     Is impersonating: False     Stack trace:    at WUGDataAccess.WebDataAccess.DBApi.GlobalSettings.GetGlobalSetting(String context, String name)   at Nm.Web.Mvc.DataCache.<GetGlobalCache>b__0(String context, String name)   at Nm.Web.Cache.Global[T](String name)   at Nm.Web.Mvc.InstallService.get_InstallStep()   at Nm.Web.UI.Controllers.UserController.Login(String returnUrl)   at lambda_method(Closure , ControllerBase , Object[] )   at System.Web.Mvc.ActionMethodDispatcher.Execute(ControllerBase controller, Object[] parameters)   at System.Web.Mvc.ReflectedActionDescriptor.Execute(ControllerContext controllerContext, IDictionary`2 parameters)   at System.Web.Mvc.ControllerActionInvoker.InvokeActionMethod(ControllerContext controllerContext, ActionDescriptor actionDescriptor, IDictionary`2 parameters)   at System.Web.Mvc.ControllerActionInvoker.<>c__DisplayClass15.<InvokeActionMethodWithFilters>b__12()   at System.Web.Mvc.ControllerActionInvoker.InvokeActionMethodFilter(IActionFilter filter, ActionExecutingContext preContext, Func`1 continuation)   at System.Web.Mvc.ControllerActionInvoker.<>c__DisplayClass15.<>c__DisplayClass17.<InvokeActionMethodWithFilters>b__14()   at System.Web.Mvc.ControllerActionInvoker.InvokeActionMethodWithFilters(ControllerContext controllerContext, IList`1 filters, ActionDescriptor actionDescriptor, IDictionary`2 parameters)   at System.Web.Mvc.ControllerActionInvoker.InvokeAction(ControllerContext controllerContext, String actionName)   at System.Web.Mvc.Controller.ExecuteCore()   at System.Web.Mvc.ControllerBase.Execute(RequestContext requestContext)   at System.Web.Mvc.ControllerBase.System.Web.Mvc.IController.Execute(RequestContext requestContext)   at System.Web.Mvc.MvcHandler.<>c__DisplayClass6.<>c__DisplayClassb.<BeginProcessRequest>b__5()   at System.Web.Mvc.Async.AsyncResultWrapper.<>c__DisplayClass1.<MakeVoidDelegate>b__0()   at System.Web.Mvc.Async.AsyncResultWrapper.<>c__DisplayClass8`1.<BeginSynchronous>b__7(IAsyncResult _)   at System.Web.Mvc.Async.AsyncResultWrapper.WrappedAsyncResult`1.End()   at System.Web.Mvc.MvcHandler.<>c__DisplayClasse.<EndProcessRequest>b__d()   at System.Web.Mvc.SecurityUtil.<GetCallInAppTrustThunk>b__0(Action f)   at System.Web.Mvc.SecurityUtil.ProcessInApplicationTrust(Action action)   at System.Web.Mvc.MvcHandler.EndProcessRequest(IAsyncResult asyncResult)   at System.Web.Mvc.MvcHandler.System.Web.IHttpAsyncHandler.EndProcessRequest(IAsyncResult result)   at System.Web.HttpApplication.CallHandlerExecutionStep.System.Web.HttpApplication.IExecutionStep.Execute()   at System.Web.HttpApplication.ExecuteStep(IExecutionStep step, Boolean& completedSynchronously) 

Seems to be authentication issue - by my ASPNET account has the described persmissions - potentially?

John - shoot me a message with your serial number and I will get tech support to follow up with you.  I think you might be right about the permissions issue, but this is going to require some digging in to get to the root of the problem.

we've got exactly the same problem after upgrading from v14 to v15. any resolution for this problem yet?

Malk - there is no exact resolution here.  If you want to shoot me a message with your serial number, I can get a tech support ticket opened for you.  Or feel free to just call in.

we have exactly the same Problem after upgrading from v14 to v15. any resolution for this problem now?

Server Error in '/NmConsole' Application.

Runtime Error

Description:
An application error occurred on the server. The current custom error
settings for this application prevent the details of the application error from
being viewed remotely (for security reasons). It could, however, be viewed by
browsers running on the local server machine.

Details: To enable
the details of this specific error message to be viewable on remote machines,
please create a <customErrors> tag within a "web.config" configuration
file located in the root directory of the current web application. This
<customErrors> tag should then have its "mode" attribute set to
"Off".

<!-- Web.Config Configuration File -->

<configuration>
    <system.web>
        <customErrors mode="Off"/>
    </system.web>
</configuration>

Notes:
The current error page you are seeing can be replaced by a custom error page by
modifying the "defaultRedirect" attribute of the application's
<customErrors> configuration tag to point to a custom error page
URL.

<!-- Web.Config Configuration File -->

<configuration>
    <system.web>
        <customErrors mode="RemoteOnly" defaultRedirect="mycustompage.htm"/>
    </system.web>
</configuration>

Same problem.  Not being able to get into the web interface after a hurricane with lots of outages is not ideal.

Jared, this has to do with an IIS configuration issue.  The quickest path to resolution would be to call into our tech support group.  They should be able to get you running in no time.

Thanks, Jason.  The group policy was pulling the "WhatsUpGold_User" out of the local administrators group.  Once we added that user back in and had IT reconfigure the GP for that server, all seems to be well.

Excellent.  Thanks for posting your fix.

Call Support....Call Support. We need a real fix here as this is happening to a few people it seems. Here is what I found that fixed the issue (On server 2008 with IIS 7). We also have GPO's that strip the local  administrators group on our servers. Best way for this with RBAC domains is to do the following;

1) Create a service account (mine was called svcWUGAdmin).

2) make sure that you have a script, or GPO that adds accounts to the local administrator group. You can do this either by a login script, or by a GPO using Restricted Groups http://www.windowsecurity.com/articles/using-restricted-groups.html . In this case, we have a GPO that calls a script at logon and adds the service account above to the Servers Local Administrators group.

3) Open Server Manager, go to Roles > web Server > IIS Manager. In the middle, navigate to the Application Pools. Then click on NmConsole App Pool, then click on Advanced settings.

4) Change the Identity under Process Model from WhatsUpGold_User to the new account created above (remember to use domain\user format).

5) Under sites, go to NmConsole appication directory and then click on Application settings. Now open the Basic Settings for this section, hit connect as button, and change the specific user to the new account above as well.

6) now restart the site WhatsUpGold, and all should work.

Also, restart the server if you need to re-add the permissions. You could restart the IpSwitch service, but I recommend restarting the server and allowing the GPO's to populate. Then it should work