PH54585: WEBSPHERE APPLICATION SERVER FOR Z/OS 9.0.5.15 GENERIC JVM ARGUMENTS NOT EXPANDED IN JVM.OPTIONS FILES

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• In WebSphere z/OS 9.0.5.15, WebSphere variables and JVM
  generic argument are not expanded.  When a variable isn't
  expanded correctly, the argument might not work as expected.
  
  For example, the string ${JVM_CACHE} might be used in
  -Xshareclasses instead of the WebSphere home directory
  (WAS_HOME).
  
  WebSphere uses a variable called -Xshareclasses to modify JVM
  class sharing behavior.  The variable controlDir=${JVM_CACHE}
  is within the setting for -Xshareclasses to control the shared
  class cache directory.  When the ${JVM_CACHE} string isn't
  expanded in -Xshareclasses, the Java shared class directory is
  created in the user.dir/user.home directory instead of the
  WAS_HOME directory.
  
  If the -Xshareclasses variable is set incorrectly, many
  problems can happen.  For example, all your application
  servers might shut down randomly.
  

Local fix

• LOCAL FIX FOR JVM ARGUMENTS:
  ============================
  1. Find your list of generic JVM arguments by using the steps
  in
  Setting generic JVM arguments in WebSphere Application Server,
  https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/397841.
  2. Search through the list of arguments to find any values that
  contain variables.
  - Variables start with ${ and $(.  For example, ${WAS_HOME} is
  a variable.
  3. Replace the variable with the value that would be replaced
  at
  run time.
  - For example, ${WAS_HOME} might be replaced with
  /WebSphere/ND/DeploymentManager
  4. Save your changes.
  5. Restart the server.
  
  LOCAL FIX FOR -Xshareclasses:
  ============================
  Although -Xshareclasses is technically a JVM argument, by
  default, it does not show up as a JVM argument in the
  administrative console.  To work around the variable
  replacement
  issue for -Xshareclasses, you can override its value by setting
  a new value as a generic JVM argument in the administrative
  console for the control and servant regions:
  For the control and servant regions, perform the following
  actions:
  1. Find your list of generic JVM arguments by using the steps
  in
  Setting generic JVM arguments in WebSphere Application Server,
  https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/397841.
  2. Set a new generic JVM agument as follows, replacing WAS_HOME
  with the path for your WebSphere home directory.
  - Control region:
  -
  Xshareclasses:name=webspherev80_%g_control,controlDir=WAS_HOME,g
  roupAccess,nonFatal
  - Servant region:
  -
  Xshareclasses:name=webspherev80_%g_servant,controlDir=WAS_HOME,g
  roupAccess,nonFatal
  Example:
  -
  Xshareclasses:name=webspherev80_%g_control,controlDir=/WebSphere
  /ND/DeploymentManager,groupAccess,nonFatal
  

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  * USERS AFFECTED:  All z/OS users of IBM WebSphere             *
  *                  Application Server 9.0.5.15                 *
  ****************************************************************
  * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: In WebSphere Application Server for     *
  *                      z/OS 9.0.5.15, variables set as part of *
  *                      a                                       *
  *                      JVM generic argument are not expanded   *
  *                      in                                      *
  *                      the jvm.options files.                  *
  ****************************************************************
  * RECOMMENDATION:  Install a fix pack or interim fix that      *
  *                  contains this APAR.                         *
  ****************************************************************
  Because the risk to your systems is significant, IBM support
  strongly recommends that you install the interim fix.  However,
  you can perform the local fix steps in this section as a short-
  term solution:
  LOCAL FIX FOR JVM ARGUMENTS:
  ============================
  1. Find your list of generic JVM arguments by using the steps
  in
  Setting generic JVM arguments in WebSphere Application Server,
  https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/397841.
  2. Search through the list of arguments to find any values that
  contain variables.
  - Variables start with ${ and $(.  For example, ${WAS_HOME} is
  a variable.
  3. Replace the variable with the value that would be replaced
  at
  run time.
  - For example, ${WAS_HOME} might be replaced with
  /WebSphere/ND/DeploymentManager
  4. Save your changes.
  5. Restart the server.
  LOCAL FIX FOR -Xshareclasses:
  ============================
  Although -Xshareclasses is technically a JVM argument, by
  default, it does not show up as a JVM argument in the
  administrative console.  To work around the variable
  replacement
  issue for -Xshareclasses, you can override its value by setting
  a new value as a generic JVM argument in the administrative
  console for the control and servant regions:
  For the control and servant regions, perform the following
  actions:
  1. Find your list of generic JVM arguments by using the steps
  in
  Setting generic JVM arguments in WebSphere Application Server,
  https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/397841.
  2. Set a new generic JVM agument as follows, replacing WAS_HOME
  with the path for your WebSphere home directory.
  - Control region:
  -
  Xshareclasses:name=webspherev80_%g_control,controlDir=WAS_HOME,g
  roupAccess,nonFatal
  - Servant region:
  -
  Xshareclasses:name=webspherev80_%g_servant,controlDir=WAS_HOME,g
  roupAccess,nonFatal
  Example:
  -
  Xshareclasses:name=webspherev80_%g_control,controlDir=/WebSphere
  /ND/DeploymentManager,groupAccess,nonFatal
  

Problem conclusion

• The WebSphere code is corrected to properly expand the ${ and $(
  values for the -X parameter in the options files.
  
  The fix for this APAR is targeted for inclusion in fix pack
  9.0.5.16. 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