Invalid config file in clean install - missing configuration section 'contactRepository'

Question

I have done the following:

• installed a clean Sitecore 7.5 instance
• added the relevant asp.net web forms controls and pages to support the site
• imported and published a content tree from an old application

Visiting the base site url yields a YSOD with the error message:

Could not find configuration node: contactRepository

Now I understand what this means - there's an expected configuration section that is missing. Adding an empty element contactRepository yields an expected message that this section is not defined.

What is contactRepository, what is its associated configuration section type, what is it for and what values should be specified in it? Alternatively, how can I turn off whatever demands this section to be present?

edit #1:

In the Sitecore.Analytics.config file in the node there are the following two lines:

<!--This configuration node is obsolete and will be removed in a future version of Sitecore. Use "contactRepository" node to get access to Contact repository--> 
<contactRepository ref="contactRepository"/>

1. The comment is total gibberish. Which node? 'Use' how? 'get access' in what sense? How is this different to what's there?
2. replacing with an empty <contactRepository> without the ref attribute, commenting out this node, both nodes, and the whole tracking node makes no difference to the application's behaviour.

Answer 1

Looking at my local Sitecore 7.5 setup the Contact Repository settings should be in your Sitecore.Analytics.config.

The contacts repository settings relate to the new xDB stuff.

Please ensure you have the correct Sitecore.Analytics config files for 7.5. There should be around 15 config files with new settings for xDB.

Please read this blog post for more information on the new Analytics setup.

https://www.sitecore.net/learn/blogs/technical-blogs/getting-to-know-sitecore/posts/2014/10/introducing-the-sitecore-analytics-index