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IBM i Installation Manager (IM) 1.9.x and below Out of Memory (OOM) issues.

General Page

This document is dependent on the version IBM i x32bit version of Installation Manager (IM) version 1.9.x and below. This does not include support for version 1.10.x or higher (x64bit).

NOTICE: IBM recommends all IBM i clients to stay on version 1.9.x in order to upgrade to future releases of the IBM i OS.  IBM i 7.6 OS only supports version 1.9.x.  If you upgrade to version 1.10.x, a rollback to version 1.9.x may be required.
Please ensure that you have the latest Installation Manager installed designated for your iOS and WebSphere instance. 
For additional information about IBM i Installation Manager:
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/687909
Problem:
During the process of updating to the latest Fixpack(s), clients experiences issues within Installation Manager attempting to execute imcl command to install/update fixpack.
./imcl install com.ibm.websphere.WEBENAB.v85_8.5.5027.20250129_1123
-acceptLicense -repositories /voptical/WASFixpack/85527
JVMDUMP055I Processing dump event "systhrow", detail "java/lang/OutOfMemoryError", exception "Java heap space" at 2025/05/14 08:08:05 - please wait.
JVMDUMP055I Processing dump event "systhrow", detail "java/lang/OutOfMemoryError", exception "Java heap space" at 2025/05/14 08:08:05 - please wait.
JVMDUMP055I Processing dump event "systhrow", detail "java/lang/OutOfMemoryError", exception "Java heap space" at 2025/05/14 08:08:05 - please wait.
JVMDUMP032I JVM requested Heap dump using '/QIBM/ProdData/InstallationManager/eclipse/tools/heapdump.20250514.080805.143.0001.phd' in response to an event
JVMDUMP010I Heap dump written to /QIBM/ProdData/InstallationManager/eclipse/tools/heapdump.20250514.080805.143.0001.phd
Upon review the Java core dumps, that should be located /QIBM/ProdData/InstallationManager/ecplise/tools, you will notice the set heap size. To adjust the current heap size for imcl you will need to edit/update the imcl.ini file. This object is located: /QIBM/ProdData/InstallationManager/eclipse/tools/ folder.
2CIUSERARG               -Dos400.vm.inputargs=-Dsun.nio.ch.disableSystemWideOverlappingFileLockCheck=true -Xms40m -Xmx512m -Xquickstart -Xgcpolicy:gencon -Dcom.ibm.tools.attach.enable=no
2CIUSERARG               -Dsun.nio.ch.disableSystemWideOverlappingFileLockCheck=true
2CIUSERARG               -Xms40m
2CIUSERARG               -Xmx512m
2CIUSERARG               -Xquickstart
2CIUSERARG               -Djava.class.path=/QIBM/ProdData/InstallationManager/eclipse/plugins/org.eclipse.equinox.launcher_1.3.201.v20161025-1711.jar

2CIUSERARG               -Dos400.vm.inputargs=-Dsun.nio.ch.disableSystemWideOverlappingFileLockCheck=true -Xms40m -Xmx512m -Xquickstart -Xgcpolicy:gencon -Dcom.ibm.tools.attach.enable=no -Dfile.encoding=ISO8859_1 -
Resolution:
a) WRKLNK '/QIBM/ProdData/InstallationManager/eclipse/tools/imcl.ini'
b) Take option 2 to Edit
Your file may differ in package information and installation location, however the variables -Xms40m and -Xmx512m should still reside.
 ************Beginning of data**************                                                                     
-toolId                                                                                                          
imcl                                                                                                             
-accessRights                                                                                                    
admin                                                                                                            
--launcher.library                                                                                               
/QIBM/ProdData/InstallationManager/eclipse/plugins/org.eclipse.equinox.launcher.motif.os400.ppc_1.0.2.v20190712  
-vm                                                                                                              
/QOpenSys/QIBM/ProdData/JavaVM/jdk80/32bit/bin/java                                                              
-nosplash                                                                                                        
--launcher.suppressErrors                                                                                        
--launcher.appendVmargs                                                                                          
-silent                                                                                                          
-startup                                                                                                         
/QIBM/ProdData/InstallationManager/eclipse/plugins/org.eclipse.equinox.launcher_1.3.201.v20161025-1711.jar       
-vmargs                                                                                                          
-Dsun.nio.ch.disableSystemWideOverlappingFileLockCheck=true                                                      
-Xms40m                                                                                                          
-Xmx512m                                                                                                                                              
-Xquickstart                                  
-Xgcpolicy:gencon                             
-Dcom.ibm.tools.attach.enable=no              
 ************End of Data********************  
3) Edit the line -Xmx512m
The new -Xmx size should fall between 1024m and 1560m. The closer to 2048m, the less break memory is available.
ex: 
-Xmx1560m
Note: Limitations on 32bit environments and recommendations
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/ibm-technology-java-32-bit-memory-address-space-layout
4) F3 twice to save and exit.
If we still experience Out of Memory issues regarding Installation Manager (IM), please open a ticket with IBM i Support MyHelp for additional assistance.
Related Resources:
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/recommended-maximum-heap-sizes-32-and-64-bit-websphere-java-instances
https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/was-nd/9.0.5?topic=packs-installing-fix-by-using-command-line

https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/recommended-maximum-heap-sizes-32-and-64-bit-websphere-java-instances

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Document Information

Modified date:
24 May 2025

UID

ibm17234685