PI26810: NULLPOINTEREXCEPTION IN HANDLERHOLDER LINE 240 DURING SERVER SHU TDOWN

8.5.5.4: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5 Fix Pack 4
8.5.5.5: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5 Fix Pack 5
8.5.5.6: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5 Fix Pack 6
8.5.5.7: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5 Fix Pack 7
8.5.5.8: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5 Fix Pack 8
8.5.5.9: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5 Fix Pack 9
8.5.5.10: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5 Fix Pack 10
8.5.5.11: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5 Fix Pack 11
8.5.5.12: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5 Fix Pack 12
8.5.5.13: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5 Fix Pack 13
8.5.5.14: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5 Fix Pack 14
8.5.5.15: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5 Fix Pack 15
8.5.5.14: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5 Fix Pack 14
8.5.5.17: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5 Fix Pack 17
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
8.5.5.16: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5 Fix Pack 16
8.5.5.21: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5.21

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• A NullPointerException may occur at
  com.ibm.ws.event.internal.HandlerHolder.getService(HandlerHolder
  .java:240) during server shutdown. This may be safely ignored.
  

Local fix

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  * USERS AFFECTED:   All users of IBM WebSphere Application     *
  *                  Server Liberty Profile                      *
  ****************************************************************
  * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: NullPointerException in HandlerHolder   *
  *                      line 240 during server shutdown         *
  ****************************************************************
  * RECOMMENDATION:                                              *
  ****************************************************************
  During server shutdown some asynchronous events may be generated
  that are no longer meaningful to process.  The code did not
  check for this and the attempt to process them results in the
  NullPointerException with stack trace in FFDC starting
  like:
  Stack Dump = java.lang.NullPointerException
  	at
  com.ibm.ws.event.internal.HandlerHolder.getService(HandlerHolder
  .java:240)
  	at
  com.ibm.ws.event.internal.HandlerHolder.fireEvent(HandlerHolder.
  java:375)
  	at
  com.ibm.ws.event.internal.HandlerHolder.fireEvent(HandlerHolder.
  java:338)
  

Problem conclusion

• The HandlerHolder code has been updated to check that the event
  can still be meaningfully processed before attempting to process
  it, eliminating the NullPointerException.  Note that this
  NullPointerException can be safely ignored on pre-8.5.5.4
  versions.
  
  The fix for this APAR is currently targeted for
  inclusion in fix pack 8.5.5.4.  Please refer to the Recommended
  Updates page for delivery information:
  http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=180&uid=swg27004980
  

Temporary fix

• Ignore ffdc with stack trace shown.
  

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

  WAS LIBERTY COR

• Fixed component ID

  5725L2900

Applicable component levels

• R855 PSY

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