JDK-8149458 : jmap - No warning/error message if unsupported command line option is used.
  • Type: Bug
  • Component: core-svc
  • Sub-Component: tools
  • Affected Version: 9
  • Priority: P4
  • Status: Resolved
  • Resolution: Not an Issue
  • Submitted: 2016-02-09
  • Updated: 2019-03-06
  • Resolved: 2019-03-06
The Version table provides details related to the release that this issue/RFE will be addressed.

Unresolved : Release in which this issue/RFE will be addressed.
Resolved: Release in which this issue/RFE has been resolved.
Fixed : Release in which this issue/RFE has been fixed. The release containing this fix may be available for download as an Early Access Release or a General Availability Release.

To download the current JDK release, click here.
JDK 9
9Resolved
Related Reports
Relates :  
JDK-8145099 - Better error message when SA can't attach to a process
Description
When we pass unsupported 'jmap' command line option 'jmap' doesn't give any warning/error message and some times it gives following exception.

Unsupported command line option '-F dump:live..' is used in this particular case.

shafi@shafi-ahmad:~/Java/jdk9/jdk9-dev/hotspot$ jps
24227 Test
24345 Jps
shafi@shafi-ahmad:~/Java/jdk9/jdk9-dev/hotspot$ jmap -F -dump:live,format=b,file=heap_dump.hprof 24227
Attaching to process ID 24227, please wait...
Error attaching to process: sun.jvm.hotspot.debugger.DebuggerException: Can't attach to the process
sun.jvm.hotspot.debugger.DebuggerException: sun.jvm.hotspot.debugger.DebuggerException: Can't attach to the process
	at sun.jvm.hotspot.debugger.linux.LinuxDebuggerLocal$LinuxDebuggerLocalWorkerThread.execute(LinuxDebuggerLocal.java:163)
	at sun.jvm.hotspot.debugger.linux.LinuxDebuggerLocal.attach(LinuxDebuggerLocal.java:278)
	at sun.jvm.hotspot.HotSpotAgent.attachDebugger(HotSpotAgent.java:671)
	at sun.jvm.hotspot.HotSpotAgent.setupDebuggerLinux(HotSpotAgent.java:611)
	at sun.jvm.hotspot.HotSpotAgent.setupDebugger(HotSpotAgent.java:337)
	at sun.jvm.hotspot.HotSpotAgent.go(HotSpotAgent.java:304)
	at sun.jvm.hotspot.HotSpotAgent.attach(HotSpotAgent.java:140)
	at sun.jvm.hotspot.tools.Tool.start(Tool.java:185)
	at sun.jvm.hotspot.tools.Tool.execute(Tool.java:118)
	at sun.jvm.hotspot.tools.HeapDumper.main(HeapDumper.java:83)
	at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke0(Native Method)
	at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(NativeMethodAccessorImpl.java:62)
	at sun.reflect.DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.java:43)
	at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:497)
	at sun.tools.jmap.JMap.runTool(JMap.java:201)
	at sun.tools.jmap.JMap.main(JMap.java:130)
Caused by: sun.jvm.hotspot.debugger.DebuggerException: Can't attach to the process
	at sun.jvm.hotspot.debugger.linux.LinuxDebuggerLocal.attach0(Native Method)
	at sun.jvm.hotspot.debugger.linux.LinuxDebuggerLocal.access$100(LinuxDebuggerLocal.java:62)
	at sun.jvm.hotspot.debugger.linux.LinuxDebuggerLocal$1AttachTask.doit(LinuxDebuggerLocal.java:269)
	at sun.jvm.hotspot.debugger.linux.LinuxDebuggerLocal$LinuxDebuggerLocalWorkerThread.run(LinuxDebuggerLocal.java:138)

$ java -version
java version "1.8.0_66"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_66-b17)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.66-b17, mixed mode)

Expected result:
On usage of such unsupported combination 'jmap' should gives warning/error. The best action here is probably to print a warning and then ignore the "live" flag. The alternative would be to print an error and exit, and the user can fix the command.
Comments
Attach error message was updated in jdk9 to include the cause.
06-03-2019
Attach error message includes error cause as of jdk9 b103.
01-03-2019
"Can't attach to the process " usually means that you do not have permission to attach to the process. Try the same thing as root.
10-02-2016