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ERROR 500 (Internal Server Error) When Accessing 'IBM Navigator for i' , 'IBM Web Administration for i', or 'IBM Digital Certificate Manager'

Troubleshooting


Problem

When accessing the 'IBM Navigator for i' , 'IBM Web Administration for i', or 'IBM Digital Certificate Manager'  page an 'Internal Server Error' or 'ERROR 500' message appears in the browser. This usually occurs due to one of the necessary ADMIN jobs in the QHTTPSVR subsystem failing to start properly.

Resolving The Problem

The ADMIN IBM powered by Apache HTTP server utilizes the Integrated Application Server (IAS), which is responsible for serving the content of the 'IBM Navigator for i' , 'IBM Web Administration for i' , and 'IBM Digital Certificate Manager' pages. When an 'ERROR 500 - Internal Server' message is received when accessing the site, it is typically caused by one of these IAS server jobs not starting properly. Below are some typical causes of the problem and their solution:

    Here is an example of how the HTTP ADMIN jobs should look in the QHTTPSVR subsystem:

    image-20220615134231-1

    When any of the jobs that have a user of QLWISVR or QWEBADMIN (ADMIN1, ADMIN3, ADMIN4 or ADMIN5) fail to start, it causes the ERROR 500 - Internal Server Error.

    Typical Problems/Solutions to the Problem:
    • The HTTP group PTF and/or the Java group PTF is backleveled


      a. On the WRKPTFGRP screen, check the level of the HTTP group PTF as well as the Java group PTF, and check if the status is 'Installed'. If it is in a 'Not Installed' status, an IPL may be required to apply all of the PTFs in the group.

      V7R3
      SF99722 HTTP
      SF99725 Java

      V7R4
      SF99662 HTTP
      SF99665 Java
      V7R5
      SF99952 HTTP
      SF99955 Java



      b. Check our Preventive Service Planning website to make sure the HTTP and Java group PTF levels are at the latest level:

      https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/ibm-i-group-ptfs-level

      c. If either the HTTP or Java group PTF level is not at the current level, it is recommended that these be installed. Note: The HTTP group will automatically order the Java group PTF when it is ordered. This was done in order to always keep both at the most current level.

    • One of the prerequisite licensed products is not installed


      Required licensed programs:
      5770SS1 option 30 - Qshell
      5770SS1 option 33 - Portable App Solutions Environment (PASE)
      5770JV1 *BASE
      5770JV1 option 17 - Java SE 8 64 bit

      Check GO LICPGM option 10 to make sure these licensed programs are installed. If these are not installed please perform a GO LICPGM opt. 11 and install them from the media that comes with the OS.
       

    • The JVM that the ADMIN1, ADMIN3, ADMIN4 and ADMIN5 jobs use is not functioning properly


      To test the JVM that the ADMIN IAS jobs use, perform the following steps:

      a. On the IBM i command line type the following command:

      CALL QSYS/QHCRPRECHK

      b. The command will check each version of Java on the system as well as PASE to see if everything works properly. If everything is successful the screen should look like the following:

      CALL QHCRPRECHK screenshot


      c. If there are any errors thrown it will indicate whether PASE or Java encountered errors. This will dictate which licensed products will need to be reinstalled from media.

      If a reinstall of the 5770JV1 is needed we would also need to reinstall the Java group PTF with an IPL.

    • Symbolic links are missing from the IFS


      There are two key symbolic link files that are used for Qshell functions used by the HTTP Admin server jobs. On some systems these symbolic link files can be missing. The following are steps to check for the existence of the files and how to re-create them if they are missing:

      a. On the IBM i command line, issue the STRQSH command to enter Qshell.

      b. Type the following commands (pressing Enter after each one):

      ls -l /bin

      then type:

      ls -l /lib

      c. The results should look as follows:

      Screen shot of QShell symbolic link check

      d. If these objects are not found, we will need to re-create the ones that are missing by issuing the following commands in Qshell:

      To create the /bin symbolic link, type the following:

      ln -s /usr/bin /bin

      To create the /lib symbolic link, type the following:

      ln -s /usr/lib /lib

      e. If you repeat Step b, you now should see symbolic links similar to the screen capture above.

     
     

    If the problem is still occurring after following the instructions in this document please run our QMGTOOLS ADMIN collector to submit data to IBM service to look into the issue further:

    [{"Type":"MASTER","Line of Business":{"code":"LOB57","label":"Power"},"Business Unit":{"code":"BU058","label":"IBM Infrastructure w\/TPS"},"Product":{"code":"SWG60","label":"IBM i"},"ARM Category":[{"code":"a8m0z0000000CISAA2","label":"Digital Certificate Manager"},{"code":"a8m0z0000000CH1AAM","label":"IBM Navigator for i"},{"code":"a8m0z0000000CIcAAM","label":"IBM i Administration Server"}],"ARM Case Number":"","Platform":[{"code":"PF012","label":"IBM i"}],"Version":"All Versions"}]

    Historical Number

    536510002

    Document Information

    Modified date:
    25 August 2022

    UID

    nas8N1018538