PM98557: PORTLET CONTAINER PLUGIN.XML CONTAINS INVALID CHARACTERS CAUSING ERROR 500 WHEN ACCESSING ADMINISTRATIVE CONSOLE.

7.0.0.31: WebSphere Application Server V7.0 Fix Pack 31
7.0.0.33: WebSphere Application Server V7.0 Fix Pack 33
7.0.0.35: WebSphere Application Server V7.0 Fix Pack 35
7.0.0.37: WebSphere Application Server V7.0 Fix Pack 37
7.0.0.39: WebSphere Application Server V7.0 Fix Pack 39
7.0.0.41: WebSphere Application Server V7.0 Fix Pack 41
7.0.0.43: WebSphere Application Server V7.0 Fix Pack 43
7.0.0.45: WebSphere Application Server V7.0 Fix Pack 45
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

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• The portlet container plugin.xml contains invalid characters.
  Normally this does not constitute any problem. Some third
  party XML parsers may throw an exception when reading the
  plugin.xml during initialization of the portlet container
  component. In this case the portlet container component will
  not get initialized; the portlet container as well as the
  administrative console will not be available.
  
  Following error occur in systemout.log when tried to access
  console and see error 500 on browser.
  
  servlet E com.ibm.ws.webcontainer.servlet.ServletWrapper service
  SRVE0068E: Uncaught exception created in one of the service
  methods of the servlet action in application isclite. Exception
  created :
  java.lang.NullPointerException
  at
  com.ibm.isclite.container.controller.InformationController.proce
  ssPrepro
  cess(InformationController.java:177)
  at
  org.apache.struts.action.RequestProcessor.process(Unknown
  Source)
  at org.apache.struts.action.ActionServlet.process(Unknown
  Source)
  at org.apache.struts.action.ActionServlet.doGet(Unknown
  Source)
  at
  javax.servlet.http.HttpServlet.service(HttpServlet.java:718)
  at
  javax.servlet.http.HttpServlet.service(HttpServlet.java:831)
  at
  com.ibm.ws.webcontainer.servlet.ServletWrapper.service(ServletWr
  apper.ja
  va:1657)
  

Local fix

• N/A
  

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  * USERS AFFECTED:  All users of IBM WebSphere Application      *
  *                  Server                                      *
  ****************************************************************
  * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: Portlet Container failed to start due   *
  *                      to an illegal character in its          *
  *                      plugin.xml.                             *
  ****************************************************************
  * RECOMMENDATION:                                              *
  ****************************************************************
  Due to the exchange of the default XML parser for plugin.xml
  files of WebSphere Application Server plugins, an illegal
  character (wrong character encoding) in a comment field of the
  portlet container plugin.xml caused the loading of the
  container to fail.
  

Problem conclusion

• To avoid further issues with different XML parsers, the
  incorrectly encoded character in the portlet container
  plugin.xml was removed.
  
  The fix for this APAR is currently targeted for inclusion in
  fix pack 7.0.0.31.  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 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