PM85187: EJB Container incorrectly fails with NullPointerException or CNTR0163E error

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• An incorrect CNTR0163E error message is produced on non-IBM
  JVMs on the second attempt to initialize an EJB.
  
  An incorrect NullPointerException is thrown if any exception is
  thrown from an asynchronous component view method.
  
  An incorrect NullPointerException is thrown if an invalid
  remote business interface object key is used.
  
  An incorrect NullPointerException is thrown if an env-entry is
  specified in web.xml or ejb-jar.xml and a corresponding value
  is not specified in the same file.
  

Local fix

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  * USERS AFFECTED:  All users of IBM WebSphere Application      *
  *                  Server with Enterprise Java Beans (EJB)     *
  *                  applications.                               *
  ****************************************************************
  * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: The EJB Container incorrectly fails     *
  *                      with a NullPointerException or          *
  *                      CNTR0163E in some scenarios.            *
  ****************************************************************
  * RECOMMENDATION:                                              *
  ****************************************************************
  If an error occurs when the application server is starting an
  EJB, then a second attempt to start the same EJB may result in
  a CNTR0163E error being logged and the EJB will fail to start
  the second time as well.
  If an exception is thrown from an asynchronous method of an
  EJB component view interface, then a NullPointerException will
  occur and the original exception will not be returned.
  If an EJB reference that is no longer valid is used, this may
  result in a NullPointerException rather than a more meaningful
  exception that indicates the interfaces is no longer supported.
  If an env-entry is specified in a module deployment
  descriptor but a corresponding value is not specified in the
  same deployment descriptor file, than a NullPointerException
  may occur.
  

Problem conclusion

• The application server has been updated to correct these error
  scenarios. The NullPointerExceptions will no longer occur and
  either the EJB will work as expected, or a more meaningful
  message will be logged, depending on the specific scenario.
  
  The fix for this APAR is currently targeted for inclusion in
  fix pack 8.5.5.0.  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

  WEBS APP SERV N

• Fixed component ID

  5724H8800

Applicable component levels

• R850 PSY

     UP