I have the same problem with min_section_size=8 and a network of 8 nodes.
But if I put back “dev”: null in peruse config file then WHM works again.
So I seem to be in an inextricable situation because I needed to set “dev” to the same value as of a vault config file to correct the earlier problem of accounts that couldn’t be created in a network with 6 vaults and min_section_size=5.
I want to try if I get the same problem with 9 vaults and min_section_section=8 but I don’t succeed in getting the ninth vaults starting. I will investigate this later.