PI68142: HPEL READER THROWS NULLPOINTEREXCEPTION ERROR WHILE GIVEN INVALID JAVA LOG LEVEL

9.0.0.2: WebSphere Application Server traditional V9.0 Fix Pack 2
8.5.5.11: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5 Fix Pack 11
9.0.0.3: WebSphere Application Server traditional V9.0 Fix Pack 3
9.0.0.4: WebSphere Application Server traditional V9.0 Fix Pack 4
8.5.5.12: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5 Fix Pack 12
9.0.0.5: WebSphere Application Server traditional V9.0 Fix Pack 5
9.0.0.6: WebSphere Application Server traditional V9.0 Fix Pack 6
8.5.5.13: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5 Fix Pack 13
9.0.0.7: WebSphere Application Server traditional V9.0 Fix Pack 7
9.0.0.8: WebSphere Application Server traditional V9.0 Fix Pack 8
8.5.5.14: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5 Fix Pack 14
9.0.0.9: WebSphere Application Server traditional V9.0 Fix Pack 9
9.0.0.10: WebSphere Application Server traditional V9.0 Fix Pack 10
8.5.5.15: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5 Fix Pack 15
9.0.0.11: WebSphere Application Server traditional V9.0 Fix Pack 11
9.0.5.0: WebSphere Application Server traditional Version 9.0.5 Refresh Pack
9.0.5.1: WebSphere Application Server traditional Version 9.0.5 Fix Pack 1
9.0.5.2: WebSphere Application Server traditional Version 9.0.5 Fix Pack 2
8.5.5.17: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5 Fix Pack 17
9.0.5.3: WebSphere Application Server traditional Version 9.0.5 Fix Pack 3
9.0.5.4: WebSphere Application Server traditional Version 9.0.5 Fix Pack 4
9.0.5.5: WebSphere Application Server traditional Version 9.0.5 Fix Pack 5
WebSphere Application Server traditional 9.0.5.6
9.0.5.7: WebSphere Application Server traditional Version 9.0.5 Fix Pack 7
9.0.5.8: WebSphere Application Server traditional Version 9.0.5.8
8.5.5.20: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5.20
8.5.5.18: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5 Fix Pack 18
8.5.5.19: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5 Fix Pack 19
9.0.5.9: WebSphere Application Server traditional Version 9.0.5.9
9.0.5.10: WebSphere Application Server traditional Version 9.0.5.10
8.5.5.16: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5 Fix Pack 16
8.5.5.21: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5.21
9.0.5.11: WebSphere Application Server traditional Version 9.0.5.11

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• Create a HPEL record = RepositoryLogRecord(null, "X", "false",
  "false","false", "FATAL") and then the record.getLevel()
  function will return null because FATAL is not a Java standard
  log level. This will cause the HPEL component to throw an NPE
  exception:
  java.lang.NullPointerException
  at
  com.ibm.websphere.logging.hpel.reader.HpelFormatter.formatMessag
  e(HpelFormatter.java:379)
  at
  com.ibm.websphere.logging.hpel.reader.HpelBasicFormatter.formatR
  ecord(HpelBasicFormatter.java:54)
  at
  com.ibm.websphere.logging.hpel.reader.HpelFormatter.formatRecord
  (HpelFormatter.java:504)
  at
  com.ibm.websphere.logging.hpel.reader.HpelFormatterTest.messageL
  evelTest(HpelFormatterTest.java:240)
  at
  com.ibm.websphere.logging.hpel.reader.HpelBasicFormatterTest.tes
  tMessage
  

Local fix

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  * USERS AFFECTED:  All users of IBM WebSphere Application      *
  *                  Server V8.5 and V9.0 users of High          *
  *                  Performance Extensible Logging (HPEL)       *
  ****************************************************************
  * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: Create a HPEL record =                  *
  *                      RepositoryLogRecord(null, "X",          *
  *                      "false" ,"false","false", "FATAL") and  *
  *                      then the record.getLevel() function     *
  *                      will return null                        *
  ****************************************************************
  * RECOMMENDATION:                                              *
  ****************************************************************
  FATAL is not a Java standard log level. This will cause the
  HPEL component to throw the following NPE exception:
  java.lang.NullPointerException
  at
  com.ibm.websphere.logging.hpel.reader.HpelFormatter.formatMessag
  e(HpelFormatter.java:379)
  at
  com.ibm.websphere.logging.hpel.reader.HpelBasicFormatter.formatR
  ecord(HpelBasicFormatter.java:54)
  at
  com.ibm.websphere.logging.hpel.reader.HpelFormatter.formatRecord
  (HpelFormatter.java:504)
  at
  com.ibm.websphere.logging.hpel.reader.HpelFormatterTest.messageL
  evelTest(HpelFormatterTest.java:240)
  at
  com.ibm.websphere.logging.hpel.reader.HpelBasicFormatterTest.tes
  tMessage
  

Problem conclusion

• The fix added logic to catch the exception.
  
  The fix for this APAR is currently targeted for inclusion in
  fix packs 8.5.5.11 and 9.0.0.2.  Please refer to the
  Recommended Updates page for delivery information:
  http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=180&uid=swg27004980
  

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

• R900 PSY

     UP