PM93665: The HTTP session manager in Liberty Profile intermittently fails to initailize correclty

8.5.5.1: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5 Fix Pack 1
8.5.5.2: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5 Fix Pack 2
8.5.5.3: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5 Fix Pack 3
8.5.5.4: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5 Fix Pack 4
8.5.5.5: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5 Fix Pack 5
8.5.5.6: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5 Fix Pack 6
8.5.5.7: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5 Fix Pack 7
8.5.5.8: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5 Fix Pack 8
8.5.5.9: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5 Fix Pack 9
8.5.5.10: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5 Fix Pack 10
8.5.5.11: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5 Fix Pack 11
8.5.5.12: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5 Fix Pack 12
8.5.5.13: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5 Fix Pack 13
8.5.5.14: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5 Fix Pack 14
8.5.5.15: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5 Fix Pack 15
8.5.5.14: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5 Fix Pack 14

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• Under certain conditions, the session manager gets stuck in an
  invalid state because a web module does not restart when it's
  expected to restart. This invalid state leads to a
  java.lang.NullPointerException when the WebContainer tries to
  retrieve the session context. The exception may look like this:
  
  SRVE8059E: An unexpected exception occurred when trying to
  retrieve the session context
  java.lang.NullPointerException
      at
  com.ibm.ws.webcontainer.WebContainer.getSessionContext(WebContai
  ner.java:671)
      at
  com.ibm.ws.webcontainer.VirtualHost.getSessionContext(VirtualHos
  t.java:189)
      at
  com.ibm.ws.webcontainer.webapp.WebGroup.getSessionContext(WebGro
  up.java:167)
      at
  com.ibm.ws.webcontainer.webapp.WebApp.createSessionContext(WebAp
  p.java:1196)
      at
  com.ibm.ws.webcontainer.webapp.WebApp.commonInitializationStart(
  WebApp.java:1180)
      at
  com.ibm.ws.webcontainer.osgi.webapp.WebApp.commonInitializationS
  tart(WebApp.java:225)
      at
  com.ibm.ws.webcontainer.webapp.WebApp.initialize(WebApp.java:934
  )
  

Local fix

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  * USERS AFFECTED:  IBM WebSphere Application Server Liberty    *
  *                  Profile Version 8.5.5 users                 *
  ****************************************************************
  * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: The HTTP session manager in Liberty     *
  *                      Profile intermittently fails to         *
  *                      initialize correctly.                   *
  ****************************************************************
  * RECOMMENDATION:                                              *
  ****************************************************************
  Under certain conditions, the session manager gets stuck in
  an invalid state because a web module does not restart when
  it's expected to restart. This invalid state leads to a
  java.lang.NullPointerException when the WebContainer tries to
  retrieve the session context. The exception may look like this:
  SRVE8059E: An unexpected exception occurred when trying to
  retrieve the session context
  java.lang.NullPointerException
  at
  com.ibm.ws.webcontainer.WebContainer.getSessionContext(WebContai
  ner.java:671)
  at
  com.ibm.ws.webcontainer.VirtualHost.getSessionContext(VirtualHos
  t.java:189)
  at
  com.ibm.ws.webcontainer.webapp.WebGroup.getSessionContext(WebGro
  up.java:167)
  at
  com.ibm.ws.webcontainer.webapp.WebApp.createSessionContext(WebAp
  p.java:1196)
  at
  com.ibm.ws.webcontainer.webapp.WebApp.commonInitializationStart(
  WebApp.java:1180)
  at
  com.ibm.ws.webcontainer.osgi.webapp.WebApp.commonInitializationS
  tart(WebApp.java:225)
  at
  com.ibm.ws.webcontainer.webapp.WebApp.initialize(WebApp.java:934
  )
  

Problem conclusion

• Code changes were made to the session manager to ensure that
  web modules always restart when they're expected to restart,
  and these changes prevent the intermittent initialization
  failures.
  
  The fix for this APAR is currently targeted for inclusion in
  fix pack 8.5.5.1.  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

  LIBERTY PROFILE

• Fixed component ID

  5724J0814

Applicable component levels

• R850 PSY

     UP