IC88187: WEBSPHERE MQ V7 JAVA APPLICATION FAILS WITH ILLEGALARGUMENTEXCEPTION WHEN USING JAVA 7

WebSphere MQ V7.5 Fix Pack 7.5.0.1
WebSphere MQ V7.0 Fix Pack 7.0.1.10
Fix Pack 7.1.0.3 for WebSphere MQ V7.1

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• A WebSphere MQ Java application running in a Java 7 Java
  Virtual Machine throws an IllegalArgumentException with the
  following stack:
  
  java.lang.IllegalArgumentException: Comparison method violates
  its general contract!
  at java.util.TimSort.mergeHi(TimSort.java:
  at java.util.TimSort.mergeAt(TimSort.java:
  at java.util.TimSort.mergeForceCollapse(TimSort.java:
  at java.util.TimSort.sort(TimSort.java:
  at java.util.TimSort.sort(TimSort.java:
  at java.util.Arrays.sort(Arrays.java:
  at com.ibm.mq.constants.MQConstants.getFields(MQConstants.
  java:320)
  

Local fix

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  USERS AFFECTED:
  This issue affects users of the WebSphere MQ classes for Java
  who are using any of the static "lookup" methods on the
  MQConstants class from an application running inside a Java 7
  Java Virtual Machine.
  
  This issue also affects users running the WebSphere MQ Explorer
  or WebSphere MQ classes for PCF within a Java 7 Java Virtual
  Machine.
  
  Users of WebSphere Application Server v8 are also affected by
  this problem, if the application server has been configured
  to run in the Java 7 environment.  One specific problem which
  has been reported with WAS 8 is that activation specifications
  do not automatically reconnect to the queue manager, in the
  even where the queue manager has been restarted.  The above
  Java stack and error message is reported in the application
  server's SystemOut.log when this problem is encountered.
  
  Platforms affected:
  All Distributed (iSeries, all Unix and Windows) +Java +Java zOS
  ****************************************************************
  PROBLEM SUMMARY:
  The Java specification defines a general contract for
  comparison, such that for three objects (a, b, c), if a<b and
  b<c, this must imply that a<c.
  
  The MQConstant comparator did not honour this contract when
  comparing the values of MQConstants with different data types.
  At Java versions earlier than 7, the Java Virtual Machine took
  no action as a result of this. At Java 7, the Java Virtual
  Machine threw an IllegalArgumentException when the contract was
  violated.
  

Problem conclusion

• The WebSpere MQ classes for Java have been modified, such that
  the comparator used for comparing MQConstant values always
  honours the general comparison contract, even if the values are
  of different data types.
  
  ---------------------------------------------------------------
  The fix is targeted for delivery in the following PTFs:
  
                     v7.0
  Platform           Fix Pack 7.0.1.10
  --------           --------------------
  Windows            U200352
  AIX                U853055
  HP-UX (PA-RISC)    U853082
  HP-UX (Itanium)    U853087
  Solaris (SPARC)    U853083
  Solaris (x86-64)   U853089
  iSeries            7.0.1.10
  Linux (x86)        U853084
  Linux (x86-64)     U853088
  Linux (zSeries)    U853085
  Linux (Power)      U853086
  zOS                7.0.1.10
  
                     v7.1
  Platform           Fix Pack 7.1.0.3
  --------           --------------------
  Windows            7.1.0.3
  AIX                7.1.0.3
  HP-UX (Itanium)    7.1.0.3
  Solaris (SPARC)    7.1.0.3
  Solaris (x86-64)   7.1.0.3
  iSeries            7.1.0.3
  Linux (x86)        7.1.0.3
  Linux (x86-64)     7.1.0.3
  Linux (zSeries)    7.1.0.3
  Linux (Power)      7.1.0.3
  zOS                7.1.0.3
  
  Platform           v7.5
  --------           --------------------
  Multiplatforms     7.5.0.1
  
  The latest available maintenance can be obtained from
  'WebSphere MQ Recommended Fixes'
  http://www-1.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=171&uid=swg27006037
  
  If the maintenance level is not yet available information on
  its planned availability can be found in 'WebSphere MQ
  Planned Maintenance Release Dates'
  http://www-1.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=171&uid=swg27006309
  ---------------------------------------------------------------
  

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

  WMQ WINDOWS V7

• Fixed component ID

  5724H7220

Applicable component levels

• R701 PSY

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