"ERROR: server.mount_point not set in the configuration file" when running rhn-satellite-activate or satellite-sync

Issue

• Error when trying to activate a new satellite certificate:

  # rhn-satellite-activate --rhn-cert <sat cert filename>
  NOTE: using backup cert as default: /etc/sysconfig/rhn/rhn-entitlement-cert.xml
  RHN_PARENT: satellite.rhn.redhat.com
  Pushing scout configs to all monitoring scouts
  Population of the Channel Family permissions failed.
  Return value: 26
  Standard-out: 14:10:35 ERROR: server.mount_point not set in the configuration fileStandard-error:
  ERROR: Population of the Channel Family permissions failed.
  

• Or, if a certificate has already been activated, a similar error when trying to use satellite-sync to list channels:

  # satellite-sync -l
  # 14:09:46 ERROR: server.mount_point not set in the configuration file