The WebSphere Application Server JVM hangs or Javacore processing hangs on AIX 4.3.3 ML09
 Technote (troubleshooting)
 
Problem(Abstract)
There are a number of problems that can occur in AIX® 4.3.3 ML09. These problems include:

  1. Application Server hangs

  2. Javacore processing hangs; this can happen when issuing a kill -3 to generate a javacore, or during signal processing for a terminal signal, such as a SIGSEGV or SIGILL.

  3. Native memory leaks


 
Cause
There are a number of known APARs in AIX 4.3.3 ML09 that can cause this.
  1. IY22308 -- a memory leak in the fclose() C runtime library

  2. IY27684 -- a hang in the AIX kernel pthreads library

  3. IY27386 -- malloc problems that can cause a JVM™ crash

  4. IY15770 -- mishandled signal can cause a process hang

  5. IY22549 + IY25282 -- Java™ GC can hang in pthread_suspend_np(). IY25282 fixes a problem with the APAR fix IY22549.

  6. IY26149 -- kernel suspends threads in pthread method; this can happen during java core processing. This is related to IY22549 and IY25282.

  7. IY25655 -- the fix for IY15770 does not work if the following are not set:

    export AIXTHREAD_SCOPE=S
    export AIXTHREAD_MNRATIO=1:1
    export SPINLOOPTIME=500

To determine your AIX ML, refer to the technote, AIX version, fileset and maintenance level information, which explains how to determine the AIX ML from the results of the instfix command.

 
Resolving the problem
The best solution is to upgrade to latest available AIX 4.3.3 ML.
You must be at the following minimum fileset levels to avoid the problems described.
  • bos.mp 4.3.3.81
  • bos.up 4.3.3.81
  • bos.adt.prof 4.3.3.81
  • bos.rte.libc 4.3.3.82
  • bos.rte.libpthreads 4.3.3.77
 
 
Cross Reference information
Segment Product Component Platform Version Edition
Application Servers Runtimes for Java Technology Java SDK
 
 


Document Information


Product categories: Software > Application Servers > Distributed Application & Web Servers > WebSphere Application Server
Operating system(s): AIX
Software version: 6.0
Software edition:
Reference #: 1137426
IBM Group: Software Group
Modified date: Feb 27, 2006