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PI63953: BACKPORT OF PM60915; PRESERVE INITIAL XML FILES DURING DEPLOYMENT

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APAR status

  • Closed as program error.

Error description

  • During application deployment copies are made of XML
    deployment descriptors.  The current strategy rewrites these
    files, introducing changes.  The save should preserve the
    original contents of the files.
    

Local fix

  • N/A
    

Problem summary

  • ****************************************************************
    * USERS AFFECTED:  All users of IBM WebSphere Application      *
    *                  Server V7.0                                 *
    ****************************************************************
    * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: Deployments rewrite deployment          *
    *                      descriptors, introducing formatting     *
    *                      changes.                                *
    ****************************************************************
    * RECOMMENDATION:                                              *
    ****************************************************************
    When deploying an application, a step of deployment
    processing is a write of the application files to an installed
    applications location. That write includes a step where the
    deployment descriptors of the application are written.
    Current processing can rewrite deployment descriptors, even
    when no change has been made to the descriptors. For
    application client JAR files and EJB JAR files, this will
    usually change the signature of the JAR file, creating a
    problem for JAR verification tools which rely on signature
    information. The rewrite also changes the encoding of XML
    special characters, for example, changing "&" to "&apos".
    While this is valid and equivalent as XML text, the change can
    cause problems for tools which rely on the "&" character
    representation.
    

Problem conclusion

  • A code update was made to prevent unnecessary rewrites of
    deployment descriptors during application deployment.  That
    enables the write of the initial application client JAR or EJB
    JAR, preserving the JAR signature.  In additional XML special
    characters are left as original encoded.
    
    Use of this fix requires that impacted applications be
    redeployed.
    
    Note that the fix will not be effective if changes are
    required to be made to a deployment descriptor during
    application deployment.  For example, if EJB method
    information is not complete prior to deployment, an update
    will be made to the EJB deployment descriptor, "ejb-jar.xml",
    and both signature information and XML special characters will
    still be effective.  When EJB method elements are incomplete,
    steps must be taken prior to application deployment to
    complete the EJB method information.
    
    The fix for this APAR is currently targeted for inclusion in
    fix pack 7.0.0.43.  Please refer to the Recommended Updates
    page for delivery information:
    http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=180&uid=swg27004980
    
    This APAR is a backport of APAR PM60915, which was integrated
    into IBM WebSphere Application Server v8.0.0.4.  This current
    APAR PI63953 integrates the same changes to v7.0 service
    packs, and introduces no additional changes to service
    packs for v8.0 (or higher).
    

Temporary fix

Comments

APAR Information

  • APAR number

    PI63953

  • Reported component name

    WEBS APP SERV N

  • Reported component ID

    5724H8800

  • Reported release

    700

  • Status

    CLOSED PER

  • PE

    NoPE

  • HIPER

    NoHIPER

  • Special Attention

    NoSpecatt / Xsystem

  • Submitted date

    2016-06-09

  • Closed date

    2016-11-29

  • Last modified date

    2016-11-29

  • 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

    WEBS APP SERV N

  • Fixed component ID

    5724H8800

Applicable component levels

  • R700 PSY

       UP

[{"Business Unit":{"code":"BU053","label":"Cloud & Data Platform"},"Product":{"code":"SSEQTP","label":"WebSphere Application Server"},"Platform":[{"code":"PF025","label":"Platform Independent"}],"Version":"7.0","Line of Business":{"code":"LOB45","label":"Automation"}}]

Document Information

Modified date:
15 October 2021