SQL Backup Activation NullReferenceException Error

Category: Licensing & activation
Date: 30 Jan 2009
Product: SQL Backup
When activating a server through the SQL Backup console, the following exception may occur:

System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an
object.
   at System.Collections.Generic.Dictionary`2.Insert(TKey key, TValue value, Boolean add)
   at RedGate.SQL.Shared.SQLServer.GetDatabasesEx(Boolean forceRefresh)
   at RedGate.SQL.Shared.SQLServer.GetDatabasesEx(String server, Boolean integratedSecurity, String username, String password, Boolean forceRefresh)
   at RedGate.SQLBackup.Engine.Server._1()
   at RedGate.SQLBackup.Engine.Server.RefreshDatabases()
   at RedGate.SQLBackup.Engine.Server.RefreshServerInformation()
   at RedGate.SQLBackup.Engine.Server.OpenConnection()

Server not activated.

The cause of the issue may be inadequate permissions for the SQL Backup Agent startup account. Check the following folders and registry keys:

1. On the SQL Server, %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data\Red Gate\Licenses folder, locate a file call SQLBackup_v5_0.lic. If it exists, open the file using notepad and check whether the contents look similar to this example:

<activationresponse>
<data>
<machinehash>1EC3-F2AC-75CB-2AFA</machinehash>
<productcode>10</productcode>
<majorversion>5</majorversion>
<minorversion>0</minorversion>
<edition>professional</edition>
<serialnumber>010-001-123456-C356</serialnumber>
<session>4E7026D1-A328-45dc-A475-5543F0C540F4</session>
</data>
<signature>
jkdshfjdhsfiouaioweaiwepiwoeijdczcfkhfkshyr236593yrehfhsdfhkjahewqaurauujasdfrjasruau54ugdfhbghzfhasgfdudgsfhgsdfgasdfg=
</signature>
</activationresponse>

If not, ensure that both the account given to the SQL Backup Agent Service and the logged in account running the activation process have Full Control security permissions to the "Licenses" directory.

2. On the SQL Server, using Regedit.exe (Registry Editor), locate the following Registry Key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Red Gate\Licensing\SQL Backup\Serial number

The "serial number" should match the value of the serialnumber attribute of the SQLBackup_v5_0.lic file. If not, ensure that both the account given to the SQL Backup Agent Service and the logged in account running the activation process have full permissions to the key.