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IT23536: MFT agent java.lang.NullPointerException causing agent ABEND after IT18213

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APAR status

  • Closed as program error.

Error description

  • After applying a Fix Pack to a Managed File Transfer
    installation that includes APAR IT18213, agents can experience
    repeated ABENDs with a java.lang.NullPointerException while a
    queue resource monitor matching on message groups attempts to
    trigger a message-to-file transfer.
    
    The ABEND file generated by the agent reports the following:
    
    FFDC reports:
    Class:      com.ibm.wmqfte.thread.FTEThread
    Method:     uncaughtException
    Probe:      ABEND_001
    Cause:      java.lang.NullPointerException
    java.lang.NullPointerException
     at
    com.ibm.wmqfte.utils.FTEIdHelper.toByteArray(FTEIdHelper.java:89
    )
     at
    com.ibm.wmqfte.io.queue.FTEQueueFactory.newSourceChannel(FTEQueu
    eFactory.java:112)
     at
    com.ibm.wmqfte.io.FTEFileFactory.newFTEFileWithChannel(FTEFileFa
    ctory.java:332)
     at
    com.ibm.wmqfte.transfer.frame.impl.TransferFrameSenderImpl.openA
    ndLockFile(TransferFrameSenderImpl.java:1347)
    

Local fix

  • The local fix is to redefine the queue resource monitor with a
    transfer template that includes the following two attributes:
    
      useGroups="true" groupId="${GROUPID}"
    
    within the <queue> element.  The following snippet shows an
    example:
    
      <source disposition="delete" recursive="false" type="queue">
        <queue useGroups="true" groupId="${GROUPID}" waitTime="30">
          FILE.QUEUE
        </queue>
      </source>
    

Problem summary

  • ****************************************************************
    USERS AFFECTED:
    This issue affects users of:
    
      - WebSphere MQ File Transfer Edition who have applied an
    interim fix for APAR IT18213
      - IBM MQ Managed File Transfer V8.0.0.8
      - IBM MQ Managed File Transfer V9.0.0.2
    
    who have queue resource monitors that issue transfers to
    transfer message groups and specify useGroups="true" attribute
    within the transfer template but do not specify the associated
    groupId="{GROUPID}" attributed.
    
    
    Platforms affected:
    MultiPlatform
    
    ****************************************************************
    PROBLEM DESCRIPTION:
    A java.lang.NullPointerException occurred after applying APAR
    IT18213 when a queue resource monitor was used that matched on
    message groups and was defined with a transfer template XML
    where the attribute on the <queue> element:
    
      useGroups
    
    was set to the value "true" but the associated attributed:
    
      groupId
    
    was not specified.
    
    The following transfer template XML snippet shows an example of
    this:
    
      <source disposition="delete" recursive="false" type="queue">
        <queue useGroups="true" waitTime="30">
          FILE.QUEUE
        </queue>
      </source>
    
    
    Note that although the above is valid and specifying the groupId
    attribute alongside the useGroups attribute is not required, it
    is the norm as it avoids the problem documented in the Knowledge
    Center here:
    
    https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/en/SSFKSJ_9.0.0/com.
    ibm.wmqfte.doc/trouble_qmon_varsub.htm
    

Problem conclusion

  • The Managed File Transfer agent code has been updated to prevent
    the java.lang.NullPointerException described in this APAR
    occurring.
    
    ---------------------------------------------------------------
    The fix is targeted for delivery in the following PTFs:
    
    Version    Maintenance Level
    v7.0       7.0.4.7
    v7.5       7.5.0.9
    v8.0       8.0.0.9
    v9.0 CD    9.0.5
    v9.0 LTS   9.0.0.4
    
    The latest available MQ maintenance can be obtained from
    'WebSphere MQ Recommended Fixes'
    http://www-1.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=171&uid=swg27006037
    
    If the maintenance level is not yet available information on
    its planned availability can be found in 'WebSphere MQ
    Planned Maintenance Release Dates'
    http://www-1.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=171&uid=swg27006309
    ---------------------------------------------------------------
    

Temporary fix

Comments

APAR Information

  • APAR number

    IT23536

  • Reported component name

    IBM MQ MFT V8.0

  • Reported component ID

    5724H7252

  • Reported release

    800

  • Status

    CLOSED PER

  • PE

    NoPE

  • HIPER

    YesHIPER

  • Special Attention

    NoSpecatt / Xsystem

  • Submitted date

    2018-01-04

  • Closed date

    2018-01-30

  • Last modified date

    2018-01-30

  • APAR is sysrouted FROM one or more of the following:

  • APAR is sysrouted TO one or more of the following:

Fix information

  • Fixed component name

    IBM MQ MFT V8.0

  • Fixed component ID

    5724H7252

Applicable component levels

[{"Business Unit":{"code":"BU053","label":"Cloud & Data Platform"},"Product":{"code":"SSYHRD","label":"IBM MQ"},"Component":"","ARM Category":[],"Platform":[{"code":"PF025","label":"Platform Independent"}],"Version":"8.0","Edition":"","Line of Business":{"code":"LOB45","label":"Automation"}}]

Document Information

Modified date:
30 January 2018