Object reference not set to an instance of an object.?

[blakeusblade 3]

Hi,

 

I'm currently experiencing lots of Media Browser Server application/service crashing when I either perform a manual library scan or a scheduled library scan.

 

Current VM is

Windows Server 2008R2

4GB RAM, 2 CPU's assigned to VM

 

MediaBrowser Server Version 3.0.5464.40000

 

See attached screenshots

See attached log files

 

2 log files exist

 

1st one is after MediaBrowser Application has started and started a scan library

2nd one is after MediaBrowser Application has been restarted

 

Note that the Dashboard notifications area doesn't always record that a previous scan failed.

 

server-63555643356.txt

server-63555643619.txt

[Sven 136]

Did you post the right logs? I don't see an error like "object reference....."

Also the log from your screenshot is not attached.

[blakeusblade 3]

Hi Sven,

 

The reason the screenshot doesn't match the logs is because I had trouble getting the logs reporting the failed scan. I'm getting a lot of inconsistent results. The majority of the time the dashboard and the logs don't report a failed scan after the service/application has been restarted.

 

What I can tell you is the logs that are attached are from a crash during a failed scan and that the dashboard is reporting "Object reference not set to an instance of an object."

 

I shall attempt to get logs from a crash with a matching screenshot.

 

Regards

[Sven 136]

I don't need a matching screenshot.

It was just that i don't see any error in the log with "Object reference not set to an instance....."

 

That's why i mentioned the difference between the screenshots and the log files.

[blakeusblade 3]

Hi Sven,

 

I've tried several times without success. It appears that every attempt managed to prgress a little further through the library during each scan. It now progresses all the way through my library without error or crashing.

 

I shall snapshot the VM in its current state and restore to a previous one and try again.

 

Report back soon

[blakeusblade 3]

Hi Sven,

 

The attached logs are those when the application crashes as displayed in attachment MediaBrowser_Crash_During_Scan_At_MB_Startup.jpg.

 

Sometimes ffprobe crashes before MediaBrowser application crashes as shown in ffprobe_crash_b4_mediabrowser_crash.jpg

 

In this instance of ffprobe crashing, immediately afterwards the VM bluescreened and restarted. This commonly happens when the mediabrowser application has crashed and been restarted multiple times.

 

Detail on the bluescreen without going too far away from the application crashing......

Analysing the windows mini dumps from the bluescreen using bluescreen view, shows the error "memory management". I'll analyse the windows memory.dmp which provides greater detail what caused the bluescreen and report back on the 5th January 2015.

 

You should find the logs match up with the screenshot. The first log is config changes being restored to MediaBrowser. The last log file is of it actually finally finishing the library scan. Every log in between is a application crash.

 

Regards

 

server-63555881737.txt

server-63555881820.txt

server-63555882007.txt

server-63555882035.txt

server-63555882117.txt

server-63555882190.txt

server-63555882237.txt

server-63555882297.txt

server-63555883202.txt

server-63555883334.txt

[blakeusblade 3]

Hi Sven,

 

Interesting development

 

Attached is another screenshot showing the Dashboard as completed the library scan, however the green progress bar remains present.

 

Attached is the log file during the crash and the log file immediately after it

 

Regards

 

server-63555885770.txt

server-63555886316.txt

[Luke 37114]

it looks like the MediaInfo library we are depending on is failing while attempting to probe a video. the failure is happening in unmanaged code in a way that appears we're not able to catch and handle, and that's causing the entire server to be brought down. i've never seen this in all of the time we've used MediaInfo. you could try installing it and seeing if it's able to scan those last few files in the log

http://mediaarea.net/en/MediaInfo/Download

[blakeusblade 3]

it looks like the MediaInfo library we are depending on is failing while attempting to probe a video. the failure is happening in unmanaged code in a way that appears we're not able to catch and handle, and that's causing the entire server to be brought down. i've never seen this in all of the time we've used MediaInfo. you could try installing it and seeing if it's able to scan those last few files in the log

http://mediaarea.net/en/MediaInfo/Download

 

 

Hi Administrators,

 

I've tried this.

 

What I performed was downloaded MediaInfo.dll from your listed link

Renamed

C:\Users\MediaBrowser\AppData\Roaming\MediaBrowser-Server\System\MediaInfo.dll to MediaInfo.old

 

Copied the new version to C:\Users\MediaBrowser\AppData\Roaming\MediaBrowser-Server\System\

 

Started MediaBrowser back up again.

 

and re-ran Library scan.

 

I experiancing very similar issues.

Edited January 3, 2015 by blakeusblade

[Luke 37114]

huh? that's not what i meant. i meant just play with the media info application and those video files.

[blakeusblade 3]

Hi Administrators,

 

I'd like to ask for a workaround if possible. The reason being is I manage my metadata using an another application in another VM, MetaBrowser. I don't need MediaBrowser to interrogate the details of the media/videofiles.

 

Is there a way that MediaBrowser can perform a library scan without interrogating the video files?

 

Regards

[Luke 37114]

No there isn't, sorry.

[blakeusblade 3]

Hi Administrators,

 

Standby... Attempting to

 

huh? that's not what i meant. i meant just play with the media info application and those video files.

[blakeusblade 3]

Hi Administrators,

 

I've completed

 

Hi Administrators,

 

Standby... Attempting to

 

 

The attached screenshot is of MediaArea.net/MediaInfo interrogating a video file that MediaBrowser was working on at a time of a crash. All appears fine.

 

I'm not sure if its of any help, MetaBrowser also uses MediaInfo to interrogate the media files and appears to be working fine.

 

[Luke 37114]

can you provide a sample file on something like dropbox?

[blakeusblade 3]

Hi Administrators,

 

Uploading now........ Standby

[blakeusblade 3]

Hi Administrators,

 

Please find the complete file here

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ayporn2hnkqqbq1/Battlestar%20Galactica%20%282003%29%20S04E12%20%5B352p%5D.avi?dl=0

 

I've had to upload the whole file. If I was to provide an edited small sample file, it would introduce another variable which may produce a different result.

 

This file is one of the files that Media Browser was in the process of or was the last file scanning when Media Browser crashes.

[blakeusblade 3]

Hi Administrators,

 

After extensive testing. There appears to be something wrong with my virtual machine from the first time I ran the installation and performing the very first snapshot. I found out that I've a few corrupt services and installed componants which is also causing all sorts of havoc which is in turn causing problems for MB3. I just thought I would close this post just in case any admins might be looking into this issue.

 

Regards

Blakeusblade