Fix (APAR):  PK29654

Status:  Fix

Release:  6.0.2.5,6.0.2.13

Operating System:  AIX,HP-UX,Linux,Linux pSeries,Linux Red Hat - pSeries,Linux zSeries,OS/390,Solaris,Windows,z/OS

Supersedes Fixes:  

CMVC Defect:  PK29654

Byte size of APAR:  47447

Date: 2006-10-17

Abstract:  Error 500 returned due to a nullpointer in WCChannelLink.init

Description/symptom of problem:  
PK29654 resolves the following problem:

ERROR DESCRIPTION:                                              
After applying PK20923 servers may experience a HTTP error 500  
while under load.  The traces and log files will show the 500 is
due to a nullpointer in the stack below                         
                                                                
com.ibm.ws.webcontainer.channel.WCChannelLink.init              
com.ibm.ws.webcontainer.channel.WCChannelLink.ready             
com.ibm.ws.http.channel.inbound.impl.HttpInboundLink.handleDiscr
imination                                                       
                                                                
The nullpointer occurs when an unsuccessful clean up has been   
made to a channel object that is shared between two threads.    

LOCAL FIX:                                                      
none                                                            

PROBLEM SUMMARY

USERS AFFECTED:
Users of WebSphere Application Server 6.x.

PROBLEM DESCRIPTION:
Error 500 returned due to a nullpointer
in WCChannelLink.init


RECOMMENDATION:
None



Channel request and response objects are nulled out after the
link is closed, resulting in possible concurrency issues.

PROBLEM CONCLUSION:                                             
Objects are now nulled out before returning the link.           
                                                                
The fix for this APAR is currently targeted for inclusion       
in fixpacks 6.0.2.15 and 6.1.0.4.                               
Please refer to the recommended updates page for delivery       
information:                                                    
http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=180&uid=swg27004980   

Directions to apply fix:  Fix applies to Editions:
Release 6.0
_X_ Application Server (Express or BASE)
_X_ Network Deployment (ND)
__ WebSphere Business Integration Server Foundation (WBISF)
__ Edge Components
__ Developer
__ Extended Deployment (XD)

Install Fix to:
Method:
_X_ Application Server Nodes
__ Deployment Manager Nodes
_X_ Both

NOTE:
The user must:
* Have Administrative rights in Windows, or be the Actual Root User in a UNIX environments.
* Logged in with the same authority level when unpacking a fix, fix pack or refresh pack.
* Be at V6.0.2.5 or newer of the Update Installer. This can be checked by reviewing the level of the Update Installer in file <was_root>/updateinstaller/version.txt.

The Update Installer can be downloaded from the following link:
http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=180&uid=swg21205991

For detailed instructions to Extract the Update Installer see the following Technote:
http://www-1.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=180&uid=swg21205400

1) Copy PKxxxxx.pak file directly to the maintenance directory

2) Shutdown WebSphere
Manually execute setupCmdLine.bat in Windows or . ./setupCmdLine.sh in Unix from the WebSphere instance that maintenance is being applied to.

3) Launch Update Installer

4) Enter the installation location of the WebSphere product you want to update.

5) Select the "Install maintenance package" operation.

6) Enter the file name of the maintenance package to install (PKxxxxx.pak file which was copied in the maintenance directory).

7) Install the maintenance package.

8) Restart WebSphere

Directions to remove fix:  NOTE:
* The user must have Administrative rights in Windows, or be the Actual Root User in a UNIX environments.
* FIXES MUST BE REMOVED IN THE ORDER THEY WERE APPLIED
* DO NOT REMOVE A FIX UNLESS ALL FIXES APPLIED AFTER IT HAVE FIRST BEEN REMOVED
* YOU MAY REAPPLY ANY REMOVED FIX

Example: If your system has fix1, fix2, and fix3 applied in that order and fix2 is to be removed, fix3 must be removed first, fix2 removed, and fix3 re-applied.

1) Shutdown WebSphere
Manually execute setupCmdLine.bat in Windows or . ./setupCmdLine.sh in Unix from the WebSphere instance that uninstall is being run against.

2) Start Update Installer

3) Enter the installation location of the WebSphere product you want to remove the fix.

4) Select  "Uninstall maintenance package" operation.

5) Enter the file name of the maintenance package to uninstall (PKxxxxx.pak).

6) UnInstall maintenance package.

7) Restart WebSphere

Directions to re-apply fix:  1) Shutdown WebSphere.

2) Follow the Fix instructions to apply the fix.

3) Restart WebSphere.

Additional Information:  6.0.2.5 iFix Requires prereq PK17095