The following test failed on merlin build 48,with jdk14

Bug Description:
=================

Failing Test:
==============
1)api/java_rmi/activation/ActivationDesc/serial/index.html#Constructor: ActivationDesc ConstructorTest tests
2)api/java_rmi/activation/ActivationDesc/serial/index.html#Input:  


Test source location:
=====================
1)/net/jdk/export/disk8/local.java/jck1.3a/JCK-runtime-13a/tests/api/java_rmi/activation/ActivationDesc/serial/ConstructorTests.java
2)/net/jdk/export/disk8/local.java/jck1.3a/JCK-runtime-13a/tests/api/java_rmi/activation/ActivationDesc/serial/InputTests.java

Platforms:
=============
Failed on sparc 5.7 and  x86 5.6. 
Haven't checked on other OSs.

JDK, switches Info:
===================
jdk1.4.0/bin/java -version
java version "1.4.0-beta"
Java(TM) 2 Runtime Environment, Standard Edition (build 1.4.0-beta-b46)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 1.4beta-B45, mixed mode)

jtr file location:
==================
1)/net/jtg-s117/export/home/jtg-test/JH_jdk14_b48_jck13a/workDir/api/java_rmi/activation/ActivationDesc/serial/index_Constructor.jtr
2)/net/jtg-s117/export/home/jtg-test/JH_jdk14_b48_jck13a/workDir/api/java_rmi/activation/ActivationDesc/serial/index_Input.jtr


How to reproduce:
=================
Run the attached script:
1)activation_ActivationDesc_serial_Constructor.ksh 
2)activation_ActivationDesc_serial_Input.ksh 

ERROR MESSAGE:
==============
1)ActivationDesc ConstructorTest 

java version "1.4.0-beta"
Java(TM) 2 Runtime Environment, Standard Edition (build 1.4.0-beta-b48)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 1.4beta-B48, compiled mode)

java.lang.NullPointerException
        at java.rmi.activation.ActivationGroupID.equals(ActivationGroupID.java:96)
        at javasoft.sqe.tests.api.java.rmi.activation.ActivationDesc.serial.ConstructorTests.serial2001(ConstructorTests.java:205)
        at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Native Method)
        at javasoft.sqe.javatest.lib.MultiTest.invokeTestCase(MultiTest.java:409)
        at javasoft.sqe.javatest.lib.MultiTest.run(MultiTest.java:205)
        at javasoft.sqe.javatest.lib.MultiTest.run(MultiTest.java:137)
        at javasoft.sqe.tests.api.java.rmi.activation.ActivationDesc.serial.ConstructorTests.main(ConstructorTests.java:42)
serial2001: Failed. Test case throws exception: java.lang.NullPointerException
Creating StreamObject from Object
Checking for JDK Version : 1.2
Creating spec class.
Verifying the constraints on the serial fields
STATUS:Failed.tests: 1; failed: 1; first test case failure: serial2001

2)ActivationDesc InputTests

java version "1.4.0-beta"
Java(TM) 2 Runtime Environment, Standard Edition (build 1.4.0-beta-b48)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 1.4beta-B48, compiled mode)

serial2002: Failed. FAILED
Checking for JDK Version : 1.2
Creating StreamObject from spec
Setting the value of serial fields
Converting the StreamObject to Object
Assertion test
className value of ActivationDesc failed assertion check.
data value of ActivationDesc failed assertion check.
groupID value of ActivationDesc failed assertion check.
location value of ActivationDesc failed assertion check.
Checking for JDK Version : 1.21
Creating StreamObject from spec
Setting the value of serial fields
Converting the StreamObject to Object
Assertion test
className value of ActivationDesc failed assertion check.
data value of ActivationDesc failed assertion check.
groupID value of ActivationDesc failed assertion check.
location value of ActivationDesc failed assertion check.
Checking for JDK Version : 1.22
Creating StreamObject from spec
Setting the value of serial fields
Converting the StreamObject to Object
Assertion test
className value of ActivationDesc failed assertion check.
data value of ActivationDesc failed assertion check.
groupID value of ActivationDesc failed assertion check.
location value of ActivationDesc failed assertion check.
Checking for JDK Version : 1.3
Creating StreamObject from spec
Setting the value of serial fields
Converting the StreamObject to Object
Assertion test
className value of ActivationDesc failed assertion check.
data value of ActivationDesc failed assertion check.
groupID value of ActivationDesc failed assertion check.
location value of ActivationDesc failed assertion check.
serial2002 failed.
STATUS:Failed.tests: 1; failed: 1; first test case failure: serial2002

System Info:
============
SPARC:
-------
jtg-s117% uname -a
SunOS jtg-s117 5.7 Generic_106541-12 sun4u sparc SUNW,Ultra-60
jtg-s117% psrinfo -v
Status of processor 0 as of: 12/21/00 16:16:07
  Processor has been on-line since 12/20/00 10:44:13.
  The sparcv9 processor operates at 296 MHz,
        and has a sparcv9 floating point processor.
Status of processor 2 as of: 12/21/00 16:16:07
  Processor has been on-line since 12/20/00 10:44:14.
  The sparcv9 processor operates at 296 MHz,
        and has a sparcv9 floating point processor.
INTEL:
------jtg-i104>intel
^Cjtg-i104>info
Hostname: jtg-i104
Hostid: 1a2c637f
Release: 5.6
Kernel architecture: i86pc
Application architecture: i386
Hardware provider: 
Domain: javasoft.eng.sun.com
Kernel version: SunOS 5.6 Generic 105182-23 July 2000
===========
Status of processor 0 as of: 01/23/01 16:10:57
  Processor has been on-line since 01/17/01 13:36:28.
  The i386 processor operates at 234 MHz,
        and has an i387 compatible floating point processor.
Status of processor 1 as of: 01/23/01 16:10:57
  Processor has been on-line since 01/17/01 13:36:28.
  The i386 processor operates at 234 MHz,
        and has an i387 compatible floating point processor.
===========
                            Solaris 2.6 s297_37c INTEL
           Copyright 1996 Sun Microsystems, Inc.  All Rights Reserved.
                      Manufactured in the USA 16 July 1997


Additional JCK related info:
============================
URL to find JCK test owners: http://javaweb.eng/jck/usr/owners.jto








sureshchandar.subramaniam@Eng 2001-01-24