PH39733: PROVIDE A SWITCH TO DISABLE JAVACORES FOR UNEXPECTED SHUTDOWNS

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• The automatic creation of javacores and stack traces for server
  shutdowns detected as "unexpected" is not configurable, leading
  concerns from customers who prefer to use nonstandard means for
  stopping/restarting their servers
  

Local fix

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  * USERS AFFECTED:  All users of IBM WebSphere Application      *
  *                  Server                                      *
  ****************************************************************
  * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: Automatic javacores generated by        *
  *                      unexpected server shutdowns cannot be   *
  *                      suppressed                              *
  ****************************************************************
  * RECOMMENDATION:                                              *
  ****************************************************************
  APAR PH32612 delivered an enhancement to WAS that detected
  unexpected server shutdowns and provided additional
  diagnostics,
  including a javacore, for proactive problem determination -
  previously, these diagnostics had to be enabled in advance, and
  these issues are generally not anticipated. And "unexpected"
  shutdown was determined to be any stop attempt that did not
  invoke the Server MBean's stop() method, which is utilized by
  the administrative console, wsadmin, and stopServer.
  However, for some users, server shutdown using atypical
  processes was part of normal operations, and a way to suppress
  these javacores was requested. In particular, that approach is
  common on IBM i, so the proactive diagnostics were determined
  to
  be ineffective on that platform.
  

Problem conclusion

• The automatic detection of unexpected server shutdowns can now
  be disabled by setting JVM custom property
  "com.ibm.ws.runtime.dumpUnexpectedShutdown" to "false" in the
  server configuration, or by adding "-
  Dcom.ibm.ws.runtime.dumpUnexpectedShutdown=false" as a generic
  JVM argument on the server process. For more information on
  setting JVM custom properties, see
  https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/was/9.0.5?topic=jvm-java-virtual-
  machine-custom-properties
  
  On IBM i, detection of unexpected server shutdowns is no longer
  active. Enhanced shutdown diagnostics can still be enabled by
  setting JVM system property "com.ibm.ws.runtime.dumpShutdown" to
  "true" in the server configuration, or by adding "-
  Dcom.ibm.ws.runtime.dumpShutdown=true" as a generic JVM argument
  on the server process. Note that this setting (also available on
  other platforms) applies to all server shutdown operations, not
  just those detected as unexpected.
  
  The fix for this APAR is targeted for inclusion in fix packs
  9.0.5.9 and 8.5.5.21. 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 APP S

• Fixed component ID

  5724J0800

Applicable component levels

• R850 PSY

     UP

• R900 PSY

     UP