PH51970: NULLPOINTEREXCEPTION RETURNED WHEN FEDERATED REPOSITORY ATTEMPTSTO RETRIEVE THE EXTERNAL IDENTIFIER (GETATTRIBUTESBYEXTID)

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• When the Federated Repository attempts to retrieve the external
  identifier associated with the repository set up (such as an
  LDAP), it instead returns a NullPointerException and the
  operation fails.
  
  
  Caused by: java.lang.NullPointerException
  at com.ibm.ws.wim.adapter.ldap.LdapConnection.getAttributesByEx
  tId(LdapConnection.java:2838)
  at com.ibm.ws.wim.adapter.ldap.LdapConnection.getEntityByIdenti
  fier(LdapConnection.java:3093)
  at com.ibm.ws.wim.adapter.ldap.LdapConnection.getEntityByIdenti
  fier(LdapConnection.java:3009)
  at com.ibm.ws.wim.adapter.ldap.LdapAdapter.get(LdapAdapter.java
  :1654)
  at
  com.ibm.ws.wim.ProfileManager.getImpl(ProfileManager.java:1762)
  at com.ibm.ws.wim.ProfileManager.genericProfileManagerMethod(Pr
  ofileManager.java:380)
  at com.ibm.ws.wim.ProfileManager.get(ProfileManager.java:438)
  at com.ibm.websphere.wim.ServiceProvider.get(ServiceProvider.ja
  va:385)
  ...
  

Local fix

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  * USERS AFFECTED:  Users of IBM WebSphere Application Server   *
  *                  using Federated Repository and making       *
  *                  calls to the                                *
  *                  "getAttributesByExtId" method.              *
  ****************************************************************
  * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: A NullPointerException is               *
  *                      returned when calling                   *
  *                      getAttributesByExtId                    *
  ****************************************************************
  * RECOMMENDATION:                                              *
  ****************************************************************
  When Federated Repository attempts to retrieve the external
  identifier it returns a NullPointerException.
  

Problem conclusion

• This fix is automatically applied without enabling any
  additional properties. A check was added in the underlying
  code to prevent the NullPointerException.
  
  The fix for this APAR is targeted for inclusion in fix pack
  8.5.5.24 and 9.0.5.17.
  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

  WEBS APP SERV N

• Fixed component ID

  5724H8800

Applicable component levels