The regression test case for bug 4318701 says it passes on linux -server but it really fails and leaves an hs_err* file. It seems Linux doesn't have the check that solaris does that you've specified too large of a stack space relative to your ulimit.

To reproduce:
% ulimit -s 2048
% java -Xss2049k -version
An irrecoverable stack overflow has occurred.
#
# An unexpected error has been detected by HotSpot Virtual Machine:
#
#
[error occurred during error reporting, step 20, id 0xb]

, pid=6572, tid=3217604736
#
# Java VM: Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (1.6.0-ea-b46 mixed mode, sharing)
# Problematic frame:
#
[error occurred during error reporting, step 60, id 0xb]

# An error report file with more information is saved as hs_err_pid6572.log
#
# If you would like to submit a bug report, please visit:
# http://java.sun.com/webapps/bugreport/crash.jsp
#

[error occurred during error reporting, step 270, id 0xb]

Aborted (core dumped)

On solaris:
% java -Xss2049k -version
Stack size of 2056 Kb exceeds current limit of 2048 Kb.
(Stack sizes are rounded up to a multiple of the system page size.)
See limit(1) to increase the stack size limit.