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Log Spam Generated While Attempting to Lock File

Date Published: Apr 11,2025


CategoryPlanned First Fix Release:Will Not Fix; Product:Blackboard Learn SaaS; Version:SaaS
Article No.: 000062231
Product:
Learn SaaS
Release:
SaaS
Service Pack(s):
SaaS
Steps to Repeat:
  1. Review the stdout-stderr logs
Expected Behavior:
The following message is not repeatedly displayed in the logs:
INFO | jvm 1 | 2016/09/15 15:35:31 | Sep 15, 2016 3:35:31 PM java.util.prefs.FileSystemPreferences checkLockFile0ErrorCode 
INFO | jvm 1 | 2016/09/15 15:35:31 | WARNING: Could not lock System prefs. Unix error code 0. 
INFO | jvm 1 | 2016/09/15 15:35:31 | Sep 15, 2016 3:35:31 PM java.util.prefs.FileSystemPreferences syncWorld 
INFO | jvm 1 | 2016/09/15 15:35:31 | WARNING: Couldn't flush system prefs: java.util.prefs.BackingStoreException: Couldn't get file lock. 
INFO | jvm 1 | 2016/09/15 15:36:01 | Sep 15, 2016 3:36:01 PM java.util.prefs.FileSystemPreferences checkLockFile0ErrorCode 
INFO | jvm 1 | 2016/09/15 15:36:01 | WARNING: Could not lock System prefs. Unix error code 0.​

 
Observed Behavior:
The following message is repeatedly displayed in the logs:
INFO | jvm 1 | 2016/09/15 15:35:31 | Sep 15, 2016 3:35:31 PM java.util.prefs.FileSystemPreferences checkLockFile0ErrorCode 
INFO | jvm 1 | 2016/09/15 15:35:31 | WARNING: Could not lock System prefs. Unix error code 0. 
INFO | jvm 1 | 2016/09/15 15:35:31 | Sep 15, 2016 3:35:31 PM java.util.prefs.FileSystemPreferences syncWorld 
INFO | jvm 1 | 2016/09/15 15:35:31 | WARNING: Couldn't flush system prefs: java.util.prefs.BackingStoreException: Couldn't get file lock. 
INFO | jvm 1 | 2016/09/15 15:36:01 | Sep 15, 2016 3:36:01 PM java.util.prefs.FileSystemPreferences checkLockFile0ErrorCode 
INFO | jvm 1 | 2016/09/15 15:36:01 | WARNING: Could not lock System prefs. Unix error code 0.​



Resolution/Workaround:

This is because Java 8 needs write access to a directory.
To fix it:
  • Preferred: add the directory to the bbuser home directory:
mkdir /home/bbuser/.java/.systemPrefs
chown bbuser /home/bbuser/.java/.systemPrefs
  • OR give bbuser ownership of the java system level version of it:
chown -R bbuser /etc/.java/.systemPrefs


Target Release:

Will Not Fix

Patch Available:

No






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