Rebuild of Global Default Environment gives '500 Internal Server Error'

Version/Environment (if relevant):

Domino 5.x

Issue:

A Global default environment will give a '500 Internal Server Error' when you attempt to rebuild that environment if it was originally built using an 'Existing Image' for it's Environment Base, see example of this below:

Root Cause:

Environments whose base environment is another existing environment in Domino cannot be used as the Global Default Environment.  When you look at a Global Default Environment that was built from an existing Image you will notice that the Environment Base is blank.

Resolution:

Global Default environments should only be created using a 'Custom Image', either one of Domino's Standard Environments (DSE) documented here or from a custom image of your choice.  Regardless of which image you want to use, you should be using the 'Start from a custom base image' option when building your default environment.

If you find yourself in this situation and don't have the time to do a full rebuild against a DSE or other image, you can duplicate your default environment, apply your changes in the duplicate and then once built promote the duplicate to the Default Environment.  

Notes/Information:

Domino Engineering is investigating how to prevent this failure mode.