NullPointerException in SecureRandom.nextBytes

I was facing this issue where a web service client which had always been running fine suddenly stopped functioning properly due to an error NullPointerException in SecureRandom.nextBytes

AxisFault
faultCode: {http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/}Server.userException
faultSubcode:
faultString: java.lang.NullPointerException
faultActor:
faultNode:
faultDetail:
{http://xml.apache.org/axis/}stackTrace:java.lang.NullPointerException
at java.security.SecureRandom.nextBytes(SecureRandom.java:406)
at org.apache.axis.utils.SessionUtils.generateSessionId(SessionUtils.java:62)

As you can see the exception was thrown when some class in Axis is calling the nextBytes function from SecureRandom Class. I spent quite some time in this and i think that is a bug for IBM version of JRE 1.4.2. If you want to know more, read here.

Therefore i changed the script which starts my web service client by using the java command from Java 5 instead of java 1.4.2 and finally it worked!

Now i do not hate PLUS so much...

I was quite surprised that PLUS did actually respond to my complaint! See below:

From: Customer Relationship Mgmt Department
Cc: Husni Bin Md Yusuf ; Rosli Bin Abdul Manan
Sent: Thursday, July 9, 2009 5:51:46 PM
Subject: PLEASE HELP ME AS A PLUS USER!

Our ref. : CRM/00926/AD-COR



Dear Sir,

First of all, we welcome and thank you for your feedback via e-mail with regard to the above.

We are sorry to learn of the unfortunate experience that you are facing while travelling along PLUS Highway due to traffic congestion along the strecth from Pedas Linggi to Nilai on 7/6/09.

Based on our investigation and record, there are a few reasons were contributed to the heavy congestion along the strecth as follows:

1. Heavy traffic entering the highway during Public Holiday and weekend i.e 6/6/09 falls on Saturday cum Agong Birthday (Public Holiday) and 7/6/09 falls on Sunday.

2. There is a climbing area at Km 265.6 NB and a slip road (ingress and egress) to Seremban Rest and Service Area (RSA).

3. Slow moving vehicles had caused back flow all the way to Nilai especially at the climbing area and slip road to Seremban RSA NB.



In view of the above, for an immediate solution we have mobilised an additional Plusronda team to monitor the traffic flow and ensure that no obstruction along the strecth especially during Public Holiday and weekend (Friday to Sunday). On top of that we are now in the midst of discussion with Malaysian Highway Authority (MHA) and Government of Malaysia to look for a permanent solution to the above problems in due course.

We hope that you would satisfy with the above explanation and we are really appreciate for your invaluable feedback.

"Thank you for traveling with PLUS!"

Best regards,



Customer Relationship and Marketing Dept.

PLUS Expressways Berhad





HCR2746

Hi guys, As a user of PLUS expressway, i am really disappointed with the poor management of PLUS on the traffic congestion. I am expecting to enjoy the value of the amount that i have paid for PLUS to use the north-south expressway! I frequently take PLUS north south expressway to go to KL from Simpang Empat toll. I always face problem such that the traffic is congested over the long stretch from Pedas Linggi to Nilai/Pajam/Sepang toll and I notice that the traffic will always go smooth after the Nilai/Pajam/Sepang toll. This shows that actually the north south expressway is able to handle the heavy volume of vehicles! I am urging you to find out what causes the jam or slowdown on Nilai/Pajam/Sepang toll and also please improve this! Your help is very much appreaciated by every PLUS users! Cheers, Disappointed PLUS user

Please be advised that we have changed our email domain from @plus.com.my to @plus.uemnet.com beginning 1 July 2008.
For enquiries, please contact our Corporate Communication Department or MIS Department at 03-76664666.

Thank you!


Well, even tough the response is quite slow(2 weeks), i actually do appreciate them to react upon my complaint!