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Java SE 7 and SE 7.1 are out of support after July 2022 for WebSphere Application Server 8.5.x

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Abstract

Support for WebSphere Application Server (WAS) V8.5 with Java SE 7 or Java SE 7.1, will be discontinued after July 2022.
There are no Support Extensions for using Java SE 7.x with WAS 8.5.x. To maintain Java support, customers need to upgrade to Java 8.

Content

Customer Important Reminder:
In the Software withdrawal and service discontinuance letter 916-143, IBM announced that September 2019 would be the End of Support (EOS) date for Java SE 7 and Java SE 7.1 for users of WebSphere Application Server V8.5.x. IBM extended the EOS date to July 2022 to provide more time for customers to migrate to Java 8. The new date matches Oracle’s Java SE 7 extended support date. IBM continues to strongly recommend to customers that use WAS 8.5.x to move to Java 8.
Customer Risk:
Helping IBM customers maintain a secure and interoperable environment is our highest concern. Security risks can come in the form of newly identified exposures that impact older versions of Java. Interoperability risks can come from aging protocols and algorithms available in Java SE 7.x being removed from clients and servers that WebSphere Application Server interacts with.
Running a WebSphere Application Server deployment on Java 7 after July 2022 will result in security exposures not present for those upgrading to Java 8. These include:
WebSphere:
  • Security Vulnerabilities: WebSphere fix packs 8.5.5.22 (and later) will require Java 8.  A deployment that does not move to Java 8 would forgo any newly identified security fixes provided in WebSphere Application Server itself.
  • WebSphere Defects: WebSphere fix packs 8.5.5.22 (and later) will require Java 8.  A deployment that does not move to Java 8 would also forgo any newly identified defects in WebSphere itself.
Java:
  • Security Vulnerabilities: An important component of the Java Critical Patch Updates (CPUs) is security fixes. There will be no more CPUs targeting Java 7, which means that any new security vulnerabilities found in Java will not be assessed, fixed or made available to users of Java 7. Over time this will lead to an increasing risk of someone being able to exploit one of these known vulnerabilities, or attack vectors that later Java releases have already addressed or removed.
  • Java Defects: Any newly identified Java defects will only be resolved on Java 8; no java maintenance will be possible on Java 7 post July 2022.
  • Security Standards: As time goes on security standards are replaced with newer more secure standards and algorithms, such as TLS 1.3 implemented in Java 8 which is not available in Java 7.
As a result of these risks IBM recommends all customers upgrade to Java 8 by before July 2022 and do not continue to run Java 7 workloads.
Customer Support Limitations:
Fix/Defect Support for Java SE 7 or Java SE 7.1 with WebSphere Application Server V8.5, will be discontinued after July 2022.
  • There are no Support Extensions for Java SE 7.x in WAS 8.5.x.
  • Support for WAS 8.5.x with Java SE 7.x will be allowed through July 2024 but will be limited in scope to usage and known defects for Java SE 7.x as follows.
    • Customers will be required to be on the latest fixpack of Java SE 7.x.
    • The scope of "usage" includes helping clients troubleshoot issues that require analyzing GC, javacores, heapdumps and cores.
    • The scope of "known defects" refers to previously fixed defects in the latest fixpack of Java SE 7.x. For such defects, the resolution will be to upgrade to the latest fixpack.
    • Java SE 7.x defects: Customers seeking newly identified defect fixes must upgrade to Java 8.
    • Websphere Application Server 8.5.x defects: Newly identified defects on Websphere Application Server 8.5.x will require upgrading to a later fix pack:
      • You will not be able to upgrade WebSphere fix packs after 8.5.5.21 without moving to Java 8. You are required to uninstall Java 7.x if you have it installed, even if the profiles are not enabled to use it. However if there are any profiles enabled to use this Java 7.x, ensure that you run a managesdk.sh/(bat) to switch from Java 7.x to bundled Java 8.x, and then uninstall it.
      • Until July 2024 IBM may be able to provide an individual iFix for a defect in production that does not have a viable workaround, this remains limited to fix packs up to 2 years old: Lifecycle Policy.
      • After July 2024, IBM will no longer be able to provide WebSphere fixes on older WebSphere fix packs that operate with Java 7. All Support for Java 7 will officially end and customers will be required to upgrade to Java 8 in order to receive support.
Java 7 to Java 8 Migration:
  • As of WebSphere 8.5.5.14, Java 8 is the default SDK included in the product.
  • The vast majority of applications will run on Java 8 without modification. This migration is highly recommended by IBM. There are minor incompatibilities due to deprecated API’s or removed features. Java 8 will provide performance improvements and enhanced security standards.
  • Java 8, Migrating & Version Compatibility: https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/sdk-java-technology/8?topic=guide-migrating

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Document Information

Modified date:
02 January 2024

UID

ibm16524282

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