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IBM i Java Development Kit 11 64 bit VMs Fail with UnsatisfiedLinkError After IBM i Java Group PTF Apply

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Abstract

After applying the following IBM i Java Group PTF level, IBM Java Development 11 64 bit VMs begin to fail with a java/lang/UnsatisfiedLinkError. Other IBM JDK versions (8, 17, 21) on the IBM i OS are not affected. Only Java 11 64 bit VMs. This can also impact the IBM i Administration (ADMIN) server, Integrated Web Services (IWS), Integrated Web Application Server (IAS), and Web Query instances running on Java 11 64 bit.

Affected IBM i Java Group PTF level:
IBM i 7.6 - N/A - Java 11 64 bit not available.
IBM i 7.5 - SF99955 level 15
IBM i 7.4 - SF99665 level 28
IBM i 7.3 - Not affected

Content

If you have recently updated your IBM i Java Group PTF level and then suddenly experience issues with your Java 11 64 bit applications running on IBM i 7.5, 7.4, or 7.3 OS, you will need to either download and apply the resolving PTF OR remove the affected PTFs causing the issue.
Affected IBM i Java Group PTF level causing the issue:
IBM i 7.6 - N/A - Java 11 64 bit not available.
IBM i 7.5 - SF99955 level 15
IBM i 7.4 - SF99665 level 28
IBM i 7.3 - Not affected
Example Java exception seen with the Java 11 64 bit failure:
Exception in thread "main" java/lang/UnsatisfiedLinkError: java/lang/System.initProperties(Ljava/util/Properties;)Ljava/util/Properties;                        
  at java/lang/System.ensureProperties (java.base@11/System.java:417)
  at java/lang/System.afterClinitInitialization (java.base@11/System.java:220)
  at java/lang/Thread.initialize (java.base@11/Thread.java:375)           
  at java/lang/Thread.<init> (java.base@11/Thread.java:162)
Resolving PTF
As of July 17th, 2025 -  IBM i JDK development has approved a PTF fix.  Please download and apply the resolving PTF(s).
Temporarily apply the PTF immediately after ending all Java 11 64 bit VMs.  You can identify these JVMs using WRKJVMJOB or the QSYS2.JVM_INFO SQL View.
IBM i 7.5 - SJ06454 (Co-Requisite) & SJ06457
IBM i 7.4 - SJ06453 (Co-Requisite) & SJ06452
Resolving IBM i Java Group PTF levels containing the above PTFs:
IBM i 7.5 - SF99955 level 16
IBM i 7.4 - SF99665 level 29
Temporary Workaround
If you are unable to apply the resolving PTF, here is a temporary workaround until the resolving PTF can be applied.
Remove the following PTFs using RMVPTF.  The PTFs can be removed immediately as long as all Java 11 VMs are ended prior to removal.  You can identify any active Java 11 VMs using WRKJVMJOB Option 5 or the QSYS2.JVM_INFO SQL View.
PTFs Causing the Issue
IBM i 7.5 - SJ05889 & SJ05893
IBM i 7.4 - SJ05888 & SJ05892
IBM i 7.3 - Not affected

End all Java 11 VMs.
Then, execute the following command for your IBM i VRM PTFs to remove them permanently from the 5770JV1 Option 19 Java 11 64 bit LPP.
RMVPTF LICPGM(5770JV1) SELECT(SJ0588x SJ0589x) RMV(*PERM) DELAYED(*NO)
 

Further details on how to roll back your Java SR FP level is discussed here:
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/how-roll-back-sr-fp-level-ibm-i-java-development-kit-jdk-after-applying-ptfs

Integrated Web Application Server (IAS) / Integrated Web Services (IWS) application servers configured to use Java 11 64 bit will need to be restarted with the -clean option or cleanup of the Liberty workarea directory must be performed after removing the Java 11 PTFs!!
See the "Resolving the Problem" section here for instructions and more information.
 

IBM is also recommending clients running critical Java applications on the IBM i perform a SAVLICPGM of their 5770JV1 LPP Options before an IBM i Java Group PTF update.  Once the update is complete, you can then perform another SAVLICPGM of your 5770JV1 LPP Options to a different save file.  If needed, you can then uninstall the specific 5770JV1 LPP Option and execute a RSTLICPGM to roll back to your previous Java SR FP level or roll forward to your new Java SR FP level.  This is handy when experiencing Java issues after a Java Group PTF level update and/or applying Java PTFs.
1) Before the IBM i Java Group PTF update, save all installed Java LPP options.

CRTSAVF QGPL/JV1BASE
CRTSAVF QGPL/JV1OPT16
CRTSAVF QGPL/JV1OPT17
CRTSAVF QGPL/JV1OPT19
etc.
SAVLICPGM LICPGM(5770JV1) DEV(*SAVF) OPTION(*BASE) SAVF(QGPL/JV1BASE)
SAVLICPGM LICPGM(5770JV1) DEV(*SAVF) OPTION(16) SAVF(QGPL/JV1OPT16)
SAVLICPGM LICPGM(5770JV1) DEV(*SAVF) OPTION(17) SAVF(QGPL/JV1OPT17)
SAVLICPGM LICPGM(5770JV1) DEV(*SAVF) OPTION(19) SAVF(QGPL/JV1OPT19)
etc.
2) Apply your IBM i Java Group PTF or Java PTFs to update the option's Service Release (SR) Fix Pack (FP) level.
3) Create new save files and save the LPPs again in case you want to "roll forward" after "rolling back".
CRTSAVF QGPL/JV1BASE_N
CRTSAVF QGPL/JV1OPT16_N
CRTSAVF QGPL/JV1OPT17_N
CRTSAVF QGPL/JV1OPT19_N
etc.
SAVLICPGM LICPGM(5770JV1) DEV(*SAVF) OPTION(*BASE) SAVF(QGPL/JV1BASE_N)
SAVLICPGM LICPGM(5770JV1) DEV(*SAVF) OPTION(16) SAVF(QGPL/JV1OPT16_N)
SAVLICPGM LICPGM(5770JV1) DEV(*SAVF) OPTION(17) SAVF(QGPL/JV1OPT17_N)
SAVLICPGM LICPGM(5770JV1) DEV(*SAVF) OPTION(19) SAVF(QGPL/JV1OPT19_N)
etc.
4) If you need to roll back or forth, you would simply uninstall the single JV1 option (except for *BASE - this would require uninstalling ALL JV1 Options to restore) and then restore the JV1 option(s) at the desired SR FP level from your JV1* save file(s).
To rollback to the original Java SR FP level from before the IBM i Java Group PTF update.

End all Java 11 VMs.
DLTLICPGM LICPGM(5770JV1) OPTION(19)
RSTLICPGM LICPGM(5770JV1) DEV(*SAVF) OPTION(19) SAVF(QGPL/JV1OPT19)
To roll forward to the new Java SR FP level from after the IBM i Java Group PTF update.

End all Java 11 VMs.
DLTLICPGM LICPGM(5770JV1) OPTION(19)
RSTLICPGM LICPGM(5770JV1) DEV(*SAVF) OPTION(19) SAVF(QGPL/JV1OPT19_N)

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Document Information

Modified date:
22 July 2025

UID

ibm17239287

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