PQ76872: NULLPOINTEREXCEPTION WHEN <ENV-ENTRY-VALUE> IS LEFT EMPTY

 A fix may be available

Obtain the fix for this APAR



APAR status
Closed as program error.

Error description
When the value for the environment entry is null in the
deployment descriptor, the result is a NullPointerException
during deployment.
.
<env-entry>
<env-entry-name>SEEDFILELOCATION</env-entry-name>
<env-entry-type>java.lang.String</env-entry-type>
<env-entry-value></env-entry-value>
</env-entry>
.
The exception:
Trace: 2003/07/09 13:09:26.274 01 t=9D7AB8 c=6B.9 key=P8
(13007002)
   FunctionName: com.ibm.ejs.container.BeanMetaData
   SourceId: com.ibm.ejs.container.BeanMetaData
   Category: DEBUG
   ExtendedMessage: env entry name, env entry val; value 1 =
"SEEDFILELOCATION", value 2 = <null>
 com.ibm.ejs.container.ContainerException: loading bean meta
data failed; nested exception is: java.lang.NullPointerException
java.lang.NullPointerException
.
According to the EJB 1.2 spec, this value should not be null.
"The Deployer (...) must set the values of those environment
entries for which no value has been specified."
.
However, the error returned should not be NullPointerException
during deployment, but NameNotFound (name not found in the
namespace) if the lookup for the entry is attempted.  This is
the change this apar should address.
Local fix Problem summary
****************************************************************
* USERS AFFECTED: All users of WebSphere Application Server    *
*                 version 4.0.1 for z/OS and OS/390.           *
****************************************************************
* PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: NullPointerException loading bean meta  *
*                      data.                                   *
****************************************************************
* RECOMMENDATION:                                              *
****************************************************************
The following exception will occur if the env entry value is not
filled in/specified by the application assembler or deployer.
com.ibm.ejs.container.ContainerException

The following stack trace will be seem in the server's joblog

com.ibm.ejs.container.ContainerException: loading bean meta data
failed; nested exception is: java.lang.NullPointerException
java.lang.NullPointerException
 at java.lang.String.<init>(String.java(Compiled Code))
 at com.ibm.ejs.container.BeanMetaData.populateJavaNameSpace2
                                       (BeanMetaData.java:1989)
 at com.ibm.ejs.container.BeanMetaData.<init>(BeanMetaData.java
                                                         :1192)
 at com.ibm.ejs.container.EJSContainer.loadBeanMetaData
                                       (EJSContainer.java:1203)
 at com.ibm.ws390.csi.WS390ContainerManager.loadBMD
                               (WS390ContainerManager.java:752)

This is an example of an incomplete/failing env entry for a
deployed application

<env-entry>
<env-entry-name>SEEDFILELOCATION</env-entry-name>
<env-entry-type>java.lang.String</env-entry-type>
<env-entry-value></env-entry-value>  <!-- This area must have
                                                     a value -->
</env-entry>
Problem conclusion
Code was updated in BeanMetaData.java to check for a null value.
If the value is null no attempt is made to bind the env-entry
into the java:comp name space.

APAR PQ76872 is associated with SERVICE LEVEL W401601 of
WebSphere Application Server version 4.0.1 for z/OS and OS/390.
Temporary fix Comments
APAR information
APAR number PQ76872
Reported component name WASKBASE
Reported component ID 5655A9801
Reported release 401
Status CLOSED PER
PE NoPE
HIPER NoHIPER
Submitted date 2003-07-29
Closed date 2003-09-10
Last modified date 2003-10-03

APAR is sysrouted FROM one or more of the following:

APAR is sysrouted TO one or more of the following:

Modules/Macros
BBOUBINF          

Fix information
Fixed component name WASKBASE
Fixed component ID 5655A9801

Applicable component levels
R401 PSY UQ80096    UP03/09/17 P F309

  Fix is available
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Document Information


Product categories: Software > Application Servers > Distributed Application & Web Servers > WebSphere Application Server for z/OS
Operating system(s):
Software version: 401
Software edition:
Reference #: PQ76872
IBM Group: Software Group
Modified date: Oct 3, 2003