PH44801: NULLPOINTEREXCEPTION IS THROWN DURING START AFTER UPGRADING TO 8.5.5.21

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• During server start up, the following exception is observed. The
  issue started happening after upgrading to 8.5.5.21. Didn't
  noticed this in earlier versions.
  java.lang.NullPointerException
  	at java.util.Hashtable.putAll(Hashtable.java:579)
  	at com.ibm.ejs.j2c.ConnectionFactoryRefBuilderImpl.createConne
  ctorReferenceableObject(ConnectionFactoryRefBuilderImpl.java:30
  0)
  	at com.ibm.ejs.j2c.ConnectionFactoryRefBuilderImpl.createConne
  ctorReferenceableObject(ConnectionFactoryRefBuilderImpl.java:26
  0)
  	at com.ibm.ws.runtime.component.binder.J2CConnectionFactoryBin
  der.getBindingObject(J2CConnectionFactoryBinder.java:317)
  	at com.ibm.ws.runtime.component.ResourceMgrImpl.bind(ResourceM
  grImpl.java:521)
  

Local fix

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  * USERS AFFECTED:  All users of IBM WebSphere Application      *
  *                  Server using connection factories with      *
  *                  trace enabled.                              *
  ****************************************************************
  * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: NullPointerException can occur with     *
  *                      trace enabled for class                 *
  *                      ConnectionFactoryRefBuilderImpl.        *
  ****************************************************************
  * RECOMMENDATION:                                              *
  ****************************************************************
  When tracing class ConnectionFactoryRefBuilderImpl, a value
  traced can be null for connection factories and the following
  stack, java.lang.NullPointerException
  at java.util.Hashtable.putAll(Hashtable.java:579)
  at com.ibm.ejs.j2c.ConnectionFactoryRefBuilderImpl.createConne
  ctorReferenceableObject(ConnectionFactoryRefBuilderImpl.java:30
  0)
  at com.ibm.ejs.j2c.ConnectionFactoryRefBuilderImpl.createConne
  ctorReferenceableObject(ConnectionFactoryRefBuilderImpl.java:26
  0)
  

Problem conclusion

• ConnectionFactoryRefBuilderImpl has been updated to avoid
  tracing the null value. If WAS.j2c=all trace is needed, try
  using this instead as a work around, *=info:
  com.ibm.ejs.j2c.*=all:
  com.ibm.ejs.j2c.ConnectionFactoryRefBuilderImpl=off
  
  The fix for this APAR is targeted for inclusion in fix pack
  8.5.5.22 and 9.0.5.12. 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