PH36210: WEBSPHERE Z/OS 9.0.5.7 SERVER FAILS TO START. JVMJNCK031E JNI ERROR IN CALLSTATICVOIDMETHODA: ARGUMENT #4 IS NULL

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• WebSphere Application Server z/OS 9.0.5.7 server fails to start
  up with the following message:
  
  JVMJNCK031E JNI error in
  CallStaticVoidMethodA: Argument #4 is NULL
  JVMJNCK080E Error
  detected in the outermost frame of an attached thread
  
  JVMJNCK024E JNI error detected. Aborting.
  
  BBOJ0077I:
  java.fullversion = 8.0.6.25 - pmz6480sr6fp25-20210115_01(SR6
  FP25)
  
  This JNI call is incorrect. CallStaticVoidMethodA()
  expects an argument list in an array of jvalues, but NULL is
  not a an array of jvalues.
   https://docs.oracle.com/javase/8/do
  cs/technotes/guides/jni/spec/functions.html#CallStatic_type_Meth
  od_routines
  
  The -Xcheck:jni implementation did not check for a
  NULL jvalue array in this JNI call prior to 8.0.6.25. The check
  was added here, along with similar checks for other JNI function
  s:
  
  https://github.com/eclipse/openj9/issues/10480
  
  https://gith
  ub.com/eclipse/openj9/commit/4558c9cd149934831551e9794b14579f7fb
  1f865#diff-2524783967950733c8b82f8013599e42dd577f13dd0b46968d7eb
  5a8f4a2e0fb
  

Local fix

• As a workaround, do either of the following options both
  detailed on this page:
  https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/was-zos/9.0.5
  ?topic=jvm-java-virtual-machine-settings
  
  OPTION 1 - Remove the
  -Xcheck:jni setting from the Generic JVM Arguments
  
  
  -Xcheck:jni may be set explicitly as an argument
  
  
  OPTION 2 -
  Disable the Verbose JNI option if it is Enabled
  
  Verbose
  JNI
  Specifies whether to use verbose debug output for native
  method invocation. The default is not to enable verbose Java
  Native Interface (JNI) activity.
  
  Information
  Value
  Data
  type	Boolean
  Default	false
  

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  * USERS AFFECTED:  All users of IBM WebSphere Application      *
  *                  Server                                      *
  *                  V9.0                                        *
  ****************************************************************
  * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: WEBSPHERE SERVER FAILS TO START with    *
  *                      JVMJNCK031E JNI ERROR IN                *
  *                      CALLSTATICVOIDMETHODA: ARGUMENT #4 IS   *
  *                      NULL                                    *
  ****************************************************************
  * RECOMMENDATION:                                              *
  ****************************************************************
  When a WebSphere server is started with verbose JNI checking
  enabled, the following JNI routines with NULL parameters may be
  flagged as invalid: CallStaticIntMethodA,
  CallStaticObjectMethodA,
  CallObjectMethodA, CallStaticVoidMethodA, CallVoidMethodA,
  CallIntMethodA.
  

Problem conclusion

• Call<type>MethodA() JNI routines with NULL parameters have been
  changed to the appropriate Call*Method() JNI routines.
  
  The fix for this APAR is targeted for inclusion in fix pack
  9.0.5.9. For more information, see 'Recommended Updates for
  WebSphere Application Server':
  https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/715553
  

Temporary fix

Comments

APAR Information

• 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

  WEBSPHERE FOR Z

• Fixed component ID

  5655I3500

Applicable component levels

• R900 PSY

     UP