Java 1.5 on HP/UX 11.23 crashing intermittently

[R P Woodman]

Hi,

I have a problem where users of an 11.23 machine are reporting crashes occasionally when using Java 1.5 (i.e. it's not reproducible on demand).

I have managed to get a core dump and an error file (hs_err_pidxxxxx.log), which shows the following:

#
# An unexpected error has been detected by HotSpot Virtual Machine:
#
# SIGSEGV (11) at pc=9fffffffeb139d00, pid=22564, tid=1
#
# Java VM: Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (1.5.0.13 jinteg:05.09.08-19:06 IA64W mixed mode)
# Problematic frame:
# J java.util.HashMap.put(Ljava/lang/Object;Ljava/lang/Object;)Ljava/lang/Object;
#


Instructions: (pc=9fffffffeb139d00)
9fffffffeb139ce0: 09 00 b8 26 98 11 00 48 45 20 23 40 61 82 00 80
9fffffffeb139cf0: 19 00 84 1e b8 11 00 10 49 70 23 00 00 00 00 20
9fffffffeb139d00: 18 00 00 14 80 11 a0 00 9c 30 20 00 00 00 00 20
9fffffffeb139d10: 0a 78 00 16 10 10 00 01 b0 20 20 40 01 51 00 84

Stack: [9fffffffffeff000,9ffffffffffff000), sp=9fffffffffffad30, free space=1007k
Native frames: (J=compiled Java code, j=interpreted, Vv=VM code, C=native code)
J java.util.HashMap.put(Ljava/lang/Object;Ljava/lang/Object;)Ljava/lang/Object;

(I can post the entire log file if required)

And I'm running 1.5.0.13 (the latest version I can find):

[wind-hub]uname -a
HP-UX wind B.11.23 U ia64 1211656232 unlimited-user license
[wind-hub]
[wind-hub]
[wind-hub]java -version
java version "1.5.0.13"
Java(TM) 2 Runtime Environment, Standard Edition (build 1.5.0.13-_09_may_2008_11_35)
Java HotSpot(TM) Server VM (build 1.5.0.13 jinteg:05.09.08-16:53 IA64, mixed mode)
[wind-hub]
[wind-hub]
[wind-hub]swlist | grep -i java
Java15JDK 1.5.0.13.00 Java 1.5 JDK for HP-UX
Java15JDKadd 1.5.0.09.00 Java 1.5 JDK -AA addon for HP-UX
Java15JRE 1.5.0.09.00 Java 1.5 JRE for HP-UX
Java15JREadd 1.5.0.09.00 Java 1.5 JRE -AA addon for HP-UX
T1456AA 1.4.2.15.00 Java2 1.4 SDK for HP-UX
T1456AAaddon 1.4.2.15.00 Java2 1.4 SDK -AA addon for HP-UX
T1457AA 1.4.2.15.00 Java2 1.4 RTE for HP-UX
T1457AAaddon 1.4.2.15.00 Java2 1.4 RTE -AA addon for HP-UX
[wind-hub]
[wind-hub]
[wind-hub]

Does anyone have any ideas as to the cause of the problem or (more importantly) how to prevent it?

Many thanks

[Steven E. Protter]

Shalom,

This happens pretty frequently.

The usual solution is to go to http://www.hp.com/go/java

Download and install a newer release.

See that you have all recommended patches installed for Java (same web site).

See that the OS patch level is sane, e.g. a recent QPK.

You seem to be pretty current on Java. You may actually wish to downgrade to a stable release and/or check OS patching issues.

Java will install even if very important patches are missing. I don't like that but that's HP's call.

SEP

[R P Woodman]

Thanks Steve.
When I posted my original question, I'd checked and I though 13 was the latest release - but I see 14 is available (and that says it also fixes a performance issue) - I'll try that initially, then go through the other points you mention.

thanks for the input - I'll post again if I get no joy.

Rgs

[Dennis Handly]

If you can't solve it by patches, you need to contact the Response CenterT to get support for java.

[Steven E. Protter]

Also:

If java just crashes on its own, go with the OS patch issue. Its pretty common.

What I failed to mention yesterday however is that most of these issues are actually caused by bad application code.

Bottom line is you need to make sure the OS/Patch Java combination is a solid foundation and then go to your application programmers and see if they are doing something bleeding edge.

SEP

[IT Response]

Hi RP,
Java dying with SIGSEGV is very common, most of the time the problem lies in the JVM mostly the hotspot compiler. There is really no way to guess what the problem may be by just looking at the hs file. The best thing to do is to open a case with your local HP response center, submit the core or better a gdb generated packcore file, so the core can be analyzed and a root cause can be found.
Cheers,
Nick

[R P Woodman]

Sorry for the delay in responding - holiday (vacation) and distracted with other seemingly more pressing issues! :-)

I'll speak to our HP support contact.

Thanks for all your input chaps.

rgds

Rupert.