JRE 9 - Essential Update Tab - Illegal reflective access

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mdpremkumar
Posts: 26
Joined: 17 Apr 2017, 09:06

Hi,

We need to apply several patch updates on our Essential Architecture server to avoid exposure to attacks.
Presently we have Java 7 installed in dev/prod. But looks like updates to Java 5, 6 & 7 are available only to customers who have purchased Java support or having oracle products that require versions 5/6/7.

Hence we installed latest JDK-9 in dev system to check if all our EA related applications are working fine and then wanted to perform the same steps on prod server.

After installing Java 9, following is the status.
> Protege 3.4.8/3.5 and Essential Viewer applications are working fine.
> Essential import utility web application (v1.7.1) was not started.

After analyzing the log files, found that JAXB API related classes were not loaded and hence NoClassDefFoundError was thrown. We came to know that Java EE classes are not bundled with Java SE 9 Jars and EE modules need to be added using --add-modules command line option. Using tomcat windows utility, added the java command like option --add-modules=java.xml.bind and started tomcat service.

Now import utility web application properly started.

We are noticing a warning in protege console (both 3.4.8/3.5), when using Essential Update tab. As soon as an update pack has been selected, below warning is displayed.

==================================================================
WARNING: An illegal reflective access operation has occurred
WARNING: Illegal reflective access by com.sun.xml.bind.v2.runtime.reflect.opt.Injector$1 file:/C:/Program%20Files/Protege_3.4.8/plugins/com.enterprise_architecture.essential.update/jaxb-impl.jar) to method java.lang.ClassLoader.defineClass(java.lang.String,byte[],int,int)
WARNING: Please consider reporting this to the maintainers of com.sun.xml.bind.v
2.runtime.reflect.opt.Injector$1
WARNING: Use --illegal-access=warn to enable warnings of further illegal reflect
ive access operations
WARNING: All illegal access operations will be denied in a future release
==================================================================

As per the last line in the warning message, looks like these kinds of illegal access operations will be denied in future Java release. Hence chances are there that update packs could not be applied to upgrade EA Meta Model. Also the functionalities using JAXB APIs may not work properly.

Can we proceed upgrading JRE to version 9 or is the recommendation to continue with JRE 7 by getting updates for that version?

Otherwise can we install Java SE 8u144 available at http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/ ... index.html?

Request you to suggest best practices on these lines.

Thanks.
Prem
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jonathan.carter
Posts: 1087
Joined: 04 Feb 2009, 15:44

Thanks very much for letting us know about this.

I've seen something similar when we moved to a new Java release and it's something that we'll address for Java 9.

We do know that all the software runs well in Java 8 and we're using that every day, here.
If it's an option for you, please try Java 8 and we'll get back to you when we've updated to Java 9.

Jonathan
Essential Project Team
mdpremkumar
Posts: 26
Joined: 17 Apr 2017, 09:06

Hi Jonathan,

Thank you very much for the quick reply.
We will upgrade to Java 8 for now.

Thanks.
Prem
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