NullReferenceException when creating new site collection

Question

Running a SharePoint 2010 farm. Whenever I attempt to create a new site collection I get the following error "Object reference not set to instance of an object" which is generated from a generic NullReferenceException. This occurs regardless of what interface I use to create it (central administration, powershell, stsadm).

Here is the stack trace from the logs:

System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object. at Microsoft.SharePoint.Administration.SPContentDatabaseCollection.FindBestContentDatabaseForSiteCreation(IEnumerable`1 contentDatabases, Guid siteIdToAvoid, Guid webIdToAvoid, SPContentDatabase database, SPContentDatabase databaseTheSiteWillBeDeletedFrom) at Microsoft.SharePoint.Administration.SPContentDatabaseCollection.FindBestContentDatabaseForSiteCreation(SPSiteCreationParameters siteCreationParameters, Guid siteIdToAvoid, Guid webIdToAvoid, SPContentDatabase database, SPContentDatabase databaseTheSiteWillBeDeletedFrom) at Microsoft.SharePoint.Administration.SPContentDatabaseCollection.FindBestContentDatabaseForSiteCreation(SPSiteCreationParameters siteCreationParameters)

I assume this is caused by a broken content database that is referred to but does not actually exist. Has anyone encountered this problem before? Is there a way to detect and remove orphaned or broken database references without combing through the configuration database?

Answer 1

There is a null reference associated with the web application; the steps for removal are here:

http://mydailytechlog.blogspot.com/2011/12/sp2010-cannot-create-new-site.html

Answer 2

I don't know what can be the cause, but first I would check if both, the application pool user and the timer job user, have the proper permissions on all of the content databases.

Also HERE is similar issue. Exception there occurs while restoring a site collection, but maybe it will give You some hint...

Answer 3

Have a look at this article it covers various reasons and resolutions why this issue may occur http://sp-vinod.blogspot.com/2012/02/cannot-create-site-collection-error.html