PH52796: NULLPOINTEREXCEPTIONS SEEN IN SERVANT REGION FOR GRIDCONTAINER

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• As part of Java batch runtime processing, it will use the admin
  client to get configuration information.  This will make a SOAP
  call using SSL to the control region.  If the SSL handshake
  fails, you will see these NullPointerExceptions:
  
  
  java.lang.NullPointerException
  	at com.ibm.ws.gridcontainer.config.ConfigurationUtility.getEBA
  List(ConfigurationUtility.java:406)
  
  java.lang.NullPointerException
  	at com.ibm.ws.gridcontainer.config.ConfigurationEventsListener
  .registerApplicationMBeanListener(ConfigurationEventsListener.j
  ava:394)
  
  java.lang.NullPointerException
  	at com.ibm.ws.gridcontainer.config.ConfigurationEventsListener
  .registerEBAMBeanListener(ConfigurationEventsListener.java:363)
  

Local fix

• Fix the SSL handshake error.  If using client authentication,
  ensure the servant region keyring contains a personal
  certificate.
  

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  * USERS AFFECTED:  All users of IBM WebSphere Application      *
  *                  Server                                      *
  *                  V8.5 and V9                                 *
  ****************************************************************
  * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: A NullPointerException is seen in the   *
  *                      server logs at                          *
  *                      startup:                                *
  *                      java.lang.NullPointerException          *
  *                      at                                      *
  *                      com.ibm.ws.gridcontainer.config.Configu *
  *                      rationUtility.getEBAL                   *
  *                      ist(ConfigurationUtility.java:406)      *
  *                      at                                      *
  *                      com.ibm.ws.gridcontainer.config.Configu *
  *                      rationLoader._populat                   *
  *                      eDeployedApplications(ConfigurationLoad *
  *                      er.java:713)                            *
  *                      at                                      *
  *                      com.ibm.ws.gridcontainer.config.Configu *
  *                      rationLoader._preLoad                   *
  *                      EndpointInformation(ConfigurationLoader *
  *                      .java:230)                              *
  *                      at                                      *
  *                      com.ibm.ws.gridcontainer.config.Configu *
  *                      rationLoader.populate                   *
  *                      Configuration(ConfigurationLoader.java: *
  *                      180)                                    *
  *                      at                                      *
  *                      com.ibm.ws.gridcontainer.services.impl. *
  *                      WASConfigurationServi                   *
  *                      ceImpl._loadConfiguration(WASConfigurat *
  *                      ionServiceImpl.java:2                   *
  *                      01)                                     *
  *                      at                                      *
  *                      com.ibm.ws.gridcontainer.services.impl. *
  *                      WASConfigurationServi                   *
  *                      ceImpl.init(WASConfigurationServiceImpl *
  *                      .java:172)                              *
  *                      at                                      *
  *                      com.ibm.ws.gridcontainer.services.impl. *
  *                      WASConfigurationServi                   *
  *                      ceImpl.getInstance(WASConfigurationServ *
  *                      iceImpl.java:52)                        *
  *                      at                                      *
  *                      com.ibm.ws.batch.EndpointComponentImpl. *
  *                      _initConfigurationSer                   *
  *                      vice(EndpointComponentImpl.java:532)    *
  *                      0	at                                    *
  *                      com.ibm.ws.batch.EndpointComponentImpl. *
  *                      start(EndpointCompone                   *
  *                      ntImpl.java:558)                        *
  ****************************************************************
  * RECOMMENDATION:                                              *
  ****************************************************************
  The Java batch configuration listeners attempt to get an admin
  client
  connection to use during initialization at startup, and if this
  fails, a
  NullPointerException can be seen in the server logs.
  This exception by itself isn't particularly helpful in
  indicating or
  determining the root cause of the problem.
  For the reported problem case, the root cause was that the z/OS
  servant
  keyring did not have a personal certificate and the Client
  authentication
  property was set to "Required". When the control or servant
  region makes an
  outbound SOAP call to the same servers SOAP port the server asks
  the client
  for a personal certificate for client authentication.
  

Problem conclusion

• A new message was created and a code update was made to better
  record that this problem has occurred, and to better indicate wh
  should be investigated to resolve it.
  
  The fix for this APAR is targeted for inclusion in fix pack
  9.0.5.17 and 8.5.5.24. 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