Understanding Java Authorized Program Analysis Reports (APARs)

Answer

What are Java APARs?

Java Authorized Program Analysis Reports (APARs) are bugs or defects that are found in the IBM Runtimes for Java. The fixes for these bugs are provided by service updates to the Java Runtimes called Service Refreshes (SRs).

What are the APAR sections, and what do they mean?

The following are the main sections of interest in a Java APAR:

• APAR status
  The APAR status describes one of two states that the APAR will be in: Open which means that the bug has been reported but a fix is not yet available, and Closed which means that the bug has been fixed, and the fix is available.

• Error description
  This is the description of how the bug is seen in the Java application. Any error message that is produced or any stack trace that is generated will be documented here.

• Local fix
  This section describes any workaround that is available and that may help you to avoid the problem.

• Problem summary
  This is the description of the underlying problem that caused the problem documented in the Error description.

• Problem conclusion
  This section describes the changes that have been made to resolve the problem, and additionally informs you which Service Refresh (SR) contains the fix. The relevant download can be obtained from the Java downloads page. If the Service Refresh is not yet available, you can request the fix by raising a problem report against Java.

• APAR information
  This section describes some details of the APAR including:
  - Reported release: the version of Java this APAR is for (142 for 1.4.2, 500 for 5.0 and 600 for 6.0)
  - Submitted date: when the problem was reported
  - Closed date: when the bug was fixed.
  Of particular interest are the "APAR is sysrouted FROM" and "APAR is sysrouted TO" sections. These list other APARs if the same bug affects other Java versions (Java 1.4.2, 5.0 or 6.0)

What should I do with the APAR?

If you have found a Java APAR that describes a problem you are experiencing, you should download the relevant Service Refresh described in the "Problem conclusion" section of the APAR from the Java downloads page.

If you are using Java embedded in another product, for example, WebSphere Application Server, you should obtain the Java Service Refresh from that product.