"java.lang.OutOfMemoryError: PermGen space" when starting SOA Suite 11g with Java 7

Problem:

When starting up SOA Suite 11g running Java 7, you may experience multiple errors in the .out file:

<Aug 9, 2014 9:26:32 PM EDT> <Critical> <WebLogicServer> <BEA-000386> <Server subsystem failed. Reason: java.lang.OutOfMemoryError: PermGen space

Exception in thread "Timer-1"Exception: java.lang.OutOfMemoryError thrown from the UncaughtExceptionHandler in thread "Timer-1"Exception in thread "[STANDBY] ExecuteThread: '2' for queue: 'weblogic.kernel.Default (self-tuning)'"Exception: java.lang.OutOfMemoryError thrown from the UncaughtExceptionHandler in thread "[STANDBY] ExecuteThread: '2' for queue: 'weblogic.kernel.Default (self-tuning)'"Exception in thread "[STANDBY] ExecuteThread: '4' for queue: 'weblogic.kernel.Default (self-tuning)'"Exception: java.lang.OutOfMemoryError thrown from the UncaughtExceptionHandler in thread "[STANDBY] ExecuteThread: '4' for queue: 'weblogic.kernel.Default (self-tuning)'"

<Aug 9, 2014 10:18:10 PM EDT> <Error> <HTTP> <BEA-101216> <Servlet: "CoordinatorPortTypeServlethttp" failed to preload on startup in Web application: "wls-wsat.war".java.lang.OutOfMemoryError: PermGen space        at java.lang.ClassLoader.defineClass1(Native Method)        at java.lang.ClassLoader.defineClass(ClassLoader.java:800)        at java.security.SecureClassLoader.defineClass(SecureClassLoader.java:142)        at java.net.URLClassLoader.defineClass(URLClassLoader.java:449)        at java.net.URLClassLoader.access$100(URLClassLoader.java:71)        Truncated. see log file for complete stacktrace>

Solution:

The PermGen needs to be increased if you are running SOA Suite 11g on Java 7 (e.g., java.runtime.version = 1.7.0_60-b19).

1. Log in to the WebLogic Server Administration Console

2. Navigate to "Server > soa_server1 > Configuration > Server Start"

3. Under the 'Arguments' field, add the following:

-XX:PermSize=1024M -XX:MaxPermSize=1024M

4. Save, apply changes, and restart the SOA server.


Applicable Versions:

• Oracle WebLogic Server 11g (10.3.x)
• Oracle SOA Suite 11g (11.1.1.x)
• Java 7 (1.7.x)

References:

• http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E23943_01/doc.1111/e14142/jdk7.htm