PH32886: INCORRECT VARIABLE DEFINITION LEADS TO FAILURE IN TRANSFORMER SCRIPT

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• When a variable is defined that points to itself (ie. recursive
  variable), it results in the transformer script failure -
  wc2n.sh (z/OS only). Any subsequent synchronization attempts
  will show synchronization was successful, but in fact
  transformer script continues to fail without updating was.env
  and *jvm.options files for all the servers in node, even if the
  bad definition was at a server level.
  
  Example of the recursive variable:
  DB2UNIVERSAL_JDBC_DRIVER_NATIVEPATH=${DB2UNIVERSAL_JDBC
  _DRIVER_NATIVEPATH}
  Once the variable was set to a different
  value (not to point to itself), the issue was resolved and all
  was.env files were updated.
  
  The only error issued is StackOverFlowError shown below. There
  is no message to say what caused it or which file had an issue
  during transformation. A message saying synchronization was
  successful is still issued. On subsequent restarts, there is
  just an FFDC log issued making it hard to notice the exception.
  
  The goal of this APAR is to improve the error reporting. End
  user will still need to fix the variable definition in order to
  resolve the problem.
  
  With the APAR on, WAS will catch the StackOverFlowError and
  issue an new error to end user during sync and fail the sync
  operation with error showing the file being processed.
  
  BOJ0060E: Transformer Exception: java.lang.StackOverflowError
  .management.util.zos.gate.RepositoryImpl.fullTransform(Repositor
  yImpl.java:975)
  .management.util.zos.Config2Native.transform(Config2Native.java:
  207)
  .management.util.zos.Config2Native.transform(Config2Native.java:
  182)
  .management.util.zos.ZOSConfigRepositoryListener.handleNotificat
  ion(ZOSConfigRep
  ...
  

Local fix

• Remove or update the variable that is pointing to itself. Save
  and Synchronize the node.
  

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  * USERS AFFECTED:  All users of Z/OS IBM WebSphere Application *
  *                  Server V8.5 and V9.                         *
  ****************************************************************
  * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: When a variable is defined that         *
  *                      points to itself it will lead to        *
  *                      StackOverflowError being logged to      *
  *                      FFDC. Synchronization was               *
  *                      successful but nodeagent will not       *
  *                      start.                                  *
  ****************************************************************
  * RECOMMENDATION:                                              *
  ****************************************************************
  When a variable is defined that points to itself it will lead
  to StackOverflowError being logged to FFDC. Synchronization was
  successful but nodeagent will not start.
  FFDC log show: BOJ0060E: Transformer Exception:
  java.lang.StackOverflowError
  .management.util.zos.gate.RepositoryImpl.fullTransform(Repositor
  yImpl.java:975)
  .management.util.zos.Config2Native.transform(Config2Native.java:
  207)
  .management.util.zos.Config2Native.transform(Config2Native.java:
  182)
  .management.util.zos.ZOSConfigRepositoryListener.handleNotificat
  ion(ZOSConfigRep....
  

Problem conclusion

• The code is modified to throw exception during syncNode and
  also to show the problem file being transformed.
  The fix for this APAR is targeted for inclusion in fix pack
  8.5.5.20 and 9.0.5.8.
  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