IBM Support

PM61980: NULLPOINTEREXCEPTION DURING APPLICATION START

Fixes are available

7.0.0.23: WebSphere Application Server V7.0 Fix Pack 23
8.0.0.4: WebSphere Application Server V8.0 Fix Pack 4
7.0.0.25: WebSphere Application Server V7.0 Fix Pack 25
8.5.0.1: WebSphere Application Server V8.5 Fix Pack 1
8.0.0.5: WebSphere Application Server V8.0 Fix Pack 5
7.0.0.27: WebSphere Application Server V7.0 Fix Pack 27
8.5.0.2: WebSphere Application Server V8.5 Fix Pack 2
8.0.0.6: WebSphere Application Server V8.0 Fix Pack 6
7.0.0.29: WebSphere Application Server V7.0 Fix Pack 29
8.0.0.7: WebSphere Application Server V8.0 Fix Pack 7
8.0.0.8: WebSphere Application Server V8.0 Fix Pack 8
7.0.0.31: WebSphere Application Server V7.0 Fix Pack 31
7.0.0.27: Java SDK 1.6 SR13 FP2 Cumulative Fix for WebSphere Application Server
7.0.0.33: WebSphere Application Server V7.0 Fix Pack 33
8.0.0.9: WebSphere Application Server V8.0 Fix Pack 9
7.0.0.35: WebSphere Application Server V7.0 Fix Pack 35
8.0.0.10: WebSphere Application Server V8.0 Fix Pack 10
7.0.0.37: WebSphere Application Server V7.0 Fix Pack 37
8.0.0.11: WebSphere Application Server V8.0 Fix Pack 11
7.0.0.39: WebSphere Application Server V7.0 Fix Pack 39
8.0.0.12: WebSphere Application Server V8.0 Fix Pack 12
7.0.0.41: WebSphere Application Server V7.0 Fix Pack 41
8.0.0.13: WebSphere Application Server V8.0 Fix Pack 13
7.0.0.43: WebSphere Application Server V7.0 Fix Pack 43
8.0.0.14: WebSphere Application Server V8.0 Fix Pack 14
7.0.0.45: WebSphere Application Server V7.0 Fix Pack 45
8.0.0.15: WebSphere Application Server V8.0 Fix Pack 15
7.0.0.23: Java SDK 1.6 SR10 FP1 Cumulative Fix for WebSphere
7.0.0.25: Java SDK 1.6 SR11 Cumulative Fix for WebSphere Application Server
7.0.0.27: Java SDK 1.6 SR12 Cumulative Fix for WebSphere Application Server
7.0.0.29: Java SDK 1.6 SR13 FP2 Cumulative Fix for WebSphere Application Server
7.0.0.45: Java SDK 1.6 SR16 FP60 Cumulative Fix for WebSphere Application Server
7.0.0.31: Java SDK 1.6 SR15 Cumulative Fix for WebSphere Application Server
7.0.0.35: Java SDK 1.6 SR16 FP1 Cumulative Fix for WebSphere Application Server
7.0.0.37: Java SDK 1.6 SR16 FP3 Cumulative Fix for WebSphere Application Server
7.0.0.39: Java SDK 1.6 SR16 FP7 Cumulative Fix for WebSphere Application Server
7.0.0.41: Java SDK 1.6 SR16 FP20 Cumulative Fix for WebSphere Application Server
7.0.0.43: Java SDK 1.6 SR16 FP41 Cumulative Fix for WebSphere Application Server

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APAR status

  • Closed as program error.

Error description

  • A NullPointerException can occur while processing the metadata
    of an application. The exception stack will show:
    
    Caused by: java.lang.NullPointerException
     at
    com.ibm.ejs.models.base.extensions.webappext.WebAppExtensionsHel
    per.getExtension(WebAppExtensionsHelper.java:84)
    

Local fix

Problem summary

  • ****************************************************************
    * USERS AFFECTED:  All users of IBM WebSphere Application      *
    *                  Server V7.0.0.19 and later, and V8          *
    ****************************************************************
    * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: NullPointerException processing web     *
    *                      module metadata when no IBM Web         *
    *                      Module Extensions file                  *
    *                      (WEB-INF/ibm-web-ext.xmi or .xml) is    *
    *                      present.                                *
    ****************************************************************
    * RECOMMENDATION:                                              *
    ****************************************************************
    Web module metadata processing, which occurs during application
    deployment and application startup, attempts to load an IBM
    Web Module Extensions file.  When no extensions file is
    present the load returns null.  In certain cases, code that
    uses the load result does not check for null, leading to a
    NullPointerException.
    The IBM Web Module Extension file is either
    WEB-INF/ibm-web-ext.xmi or WEB-INF/ibm-web-ext.xml, depending
    on the schema version of the web module.  An IBM Web Module
    Extension file is usually present, but is not required to be
    present.
    The symptom of this problem is NullPointerException occurring
    on a call to method WebAppExtension.getWebApp().
    

Problem conclusion

  • Metadata processing code was updated to avoid the
    NullPointerException by adding check for a null load result.
    
    The fix for this APAR is currently targeted for inclusion in
    fix packs 7.0.0.23, 8.0.0.4, and 8.5.0.1.  Please refer to the
    Recommended Updates page for delivery information:
    http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=180&uid=swg27004980
    

Temporary fix

Comments

APAR Information

  • APAR number

    PM61980

  • Reported component name

    WEBSPHERE APP S

  • Reported component ID

    5724J0800

  • Reported release

    700

  • Status

    CLOSED PER

  • PE

    NoPE

  • HIPER

    NoHIPER

  • Special Attention

    NoSpecatt

  • Submitted date

    2012-04-06

  • Closed date

    2012-05-17

  • Last modified date

    2012-05-18

  • 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

    WEBSPHERE APP S

  • Fixed component ID

    5724J0800

Applicable component levels

  • R700 PSY

       UP

  • R800 PSY

       UP

  • R850 PSY

       UP

[{"Business Unit":{"code":"BU059","label":"IBM Software w\/o TPS"},"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:
28 October 2021