WebSphere Application Server JVMs - Dumping

Thanks to my mate, Mike, for this.

<caveat emptor>

Want to force a WAS JVM ( or, almost certainly, any other JVM ) to generate a core dump ( Javacore ) ?

Using Unix ?

If so, identify the Process ID ( PID ) of the JVM, perhaps using ps auxw | grep -i java and then, once you've checked AND double-checked that it's the right PID, issue this command: -

$ kill -3 12345

( where 12345 is an example of the PID )

The Javacore will be, by default, written to the WAS profile root e.g. /opt/IBM/WebSphere/AppServer/profiles/AppSrv01.

Want to force a heap dump ?

If so, fire up wsadmin: -

$ cd /opt/IBM/WebSphere/AppServer/profiles/AppSrv01/bin

$ ./wsadmin.sh -lang jacl

wsadmin> set objectName [$AdminControl queryNames WebSphere:type=JVM,process=<JVM Name>,node=<Node Name>,*] 

which returns something like this: -
 
WebSphere:name=JVM,process=bpmPCapp01-server01,platform=proxy,node=primary_base,j2eeType=JVM,J2EEServer=base-bpmPCapp01-server01,version=7.0.0.25,type=JVM,mbeanIdentifier=JVM,cell=ProcCtr03Cell,spec=1.0

wsadmin> $AdminControl invoke $objectName generateHeapDump

Again, the heap dump  will be, by default, written to the WAS profile root e.g. /opt/IBM/WebSphere/AppServer/profiles/AppSrv01. 

</caveat emptor>

Remember - your mileage may vary - if in doubt, do nowt