PM20483: CurrentCompositeContext.getContext() returns null on a server without any SCA applications deployed.

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• Scenario:
  Attempt to access a Service Component Architecture (SCA)
  service using SCA binding from a servlet.
  
  Environment:
  Cell contains 2 nodes:  Node01 running server1
  Node02 running server2
  
  SCA service is deployed to server2 on Node02.
  Servlet runs on server1 on Node01.
  
  Servlet attempts to get a handle to the service using the call
  CurrentCompositeContext.getContext() to get the
  CompositeContext.
  It then uses that CompositeContext to get a handle to the
  service on server2.
  
  However, when the call to get the Context is invoked, a null
  CompositeContext is returned.  No exceptions are thrown
  when trying to access the service
  CurrentCompositeContext.getContext(), only a null value is
  returned.
  

Local fix

• Deploy a dummy composite on the server which is calling the
  remote SCA service.  This ensures that the CompositeContext is
  not null when the servlet requests it.
  

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  * USERS AFFECTED:  Users of the IBM WebSphere Application      *
  *                  Server V7 Feature Pack for Service          *
  *                  Component Architecture (SCA)                *
  ****************************************************************
  * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: When a server or cluster does not       *
  *                      contain any SCA applications,the SCA    *
  *                      runtime is not started. As a            *
  *                      result calls to                         *
  *                      CurrentCompositeContext.getContext()    *
  *                      in client applications will return      *
  *                      null.                                   *
  ****************************************************************
  * RECOMMENDATION:                                              *
  ****************************************************************
  When a server or cluster does not contain any SCA
  applications, calls to CurrentCompositeContext.getContext()
  will return null.
  
  As a result, this common programming pattern will fail with a
  NullPointerException:
  
  CompositeContext compositeContext =
  com.ibm.websphere.sca.context.CurrentCo
  mpositeContext.getContext();
  MyService myService =
  (MyService)compositeContext.getService(
  MyService.class, "MyComponent");
  

Problem conclusion

• The Feature Pack for SCA was changed to initialize the SCA
  runtime when CurrentCompositeContext.getContext() is
  called. If the SCA runtime can not be initialized, a
  ServiceRuntimeException is thrown.
  
  APAR PM20483 is currently targeted for inclusion in Service
  Level (Fix Pack) 1.0.1.9 of WebSphere Application Server v7
  Feature Pack for Service Component Architecture (SCA) Refresh
  Pack. 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

  WAS SCA FEATURE

• Fixed component ID

  5724J0854

Applicable component levels

• R700 PSY

     UP