mack 5.8 # cat /etc/release
                       Solaris 8 2/04 s28s_hw4wos_05a SPARC
           Copyright 2004 Sun Microsystems, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
                            Assembled 08 January 2004
mack 5.8 #



Install the JDK self extracting binary.

Clear any cache or app settings:
 # rm -rf /.java

Launch javaws from the installed JDK:
 # ./jdk1.5.0_14/bin/javaws &

Thie wil display the Java Application Cache Viewer.

Edit -> Preferences

This will display the Java Control Panel with the "General" tab pre-selected

Click "Network Settings..."

Click the "Use Browser Settings" radio button.

Then click "OK" button.

Click the "Advanced" tab in the Java Control Panel

Expand the "Command to launch default browser" setting.
Ensure that a browser was located by the Control Panel for this setting.
For Solaris 8 it will typically be /usr/dt/appconfig/netscape/netscape
Mine had /usr/sfw/bin/mozilla.


Click OK button to close Java Control Panel
Click File -> Exit in the Java Application Cache Viewer

Launch the browser configured and ensure that a proxy is correctly configured in it and you can reach an external website.

Back on the command line, use Java Webstart to launch the following app:
# ./jdk1.5.0_14/bin/javaws http://java.sun.com/products/javawebstart/apps/mg.jnlp

I obtained a dialog "Java Web Start - Invalid Argument Error"
"Unable to launch the specified application.
Click on Details.

General Tab
-----------
An error occurred while launching/running the application.

Category: Invalid Argument Error

Could not load file/URL specified: http://java.sun.com/products/javawebstart/apps/mg.jnlp

Exception Tab
-------------
CouldNotLoadArgumentException[ Could not load file/URL specified: http://java.sun.com/products/javawebstart/apps/mg.jnlp]
at com.sun.javaws.Main.launchApp(Main.java:187)
at com.sun.javaws.Main.main(Main.java:136)

Wrapped Exception Tab
---------------------
java.net.UnknownHostException: java.sun.com
at java.net.PlainSocketImpl.connect(PlainSocketImpl.java:177)
at java.net.Socket.connect(Socket.java:520)
at java.net.Socket.connect(Socket.java:470)
at sun.net.NetworkClient.doConnect(NetworkClient.java:157)
at sun.net.www.http.HttpClient.openServer(HttpClient.java:388)
at sun.net.www.http.HttpClient.openServer(HttpClient.java:523)
at sun.net.www.http.HttpClient.<init>(HttpClient.java:231)
at sun.net.www.http.HttpClient.New(HttpClient.java:304)
at sun.net.www.http.HttpClient.New(HttpClient.java:321)
at sun.net.www.protocol.http.HttpURLConnection.getNewHttpClient(HttpURLConnection.java:813)
at sun.net.www.protocol.http.HttpURLConnection.plainConnect(HttpURLConnection.java:765)
at sun.net.www.protocol.http.HttpURLConnection.connect(HttpURLConnection.java:690)
at com.sun.javaws.net.BasicNetworkLayer.doRequest(BasicNetworkLayer.java:175)
at com.sun.javaws.net.BasicNetworkLayer.doGetRequest(BasicNetworkLayer.java:92)
at com.sun.javaws.jnl.LaunchDescFactory.buildDescriptor(LaunchDescFactory.java:79)
at com.sun.javaws.jnl.LaunchDescFactory.buildDescriptor(LaunchDescFactory.java:100)
at com.sun.javaws.Main.launchApp(Main.java:182)
at com.sun.javaws.Main.main(Main.java:136)

Console
-------
Java Web Start 1.5.0_14
Using JRE version 1.5.0_14 Java HotSpot(TM) Server VM
User home directory = /
----------------------------------------------------
c: clear console window
f: finalize objects on finalization queue
g: garbage collect
h: display this help message
m: print memory usage
o: trigger logging
p: reload proxy configuration
q: hide console
r: reload policy configuration
s: dump system and deployment properties
t: dump thread list
0-5: set trace level to <n>
----------------------------------------------------
#### Java Web Start Error:
#### Could not load file/URL specified: http://java.sun.com/products/javawebstart/apps/mg.jnlp



The above process is a reasonable one to expect the Javaws to launch the application.

This is seen to function correctly in 1.5.0 (FCS) and 1.5.0_01 on Solaris 8 Sparc

It is also functioning correctly i njdk 5.0u14b03 on Solaris 10 (sparc and x86) and Solaris 9 Sparc.

While tracing introduction I have observed the Solaris 8 Sparc failure in:
jdk1.5.0_02
jdk1.5.0_02
jdk1.5.0_03
jdk1.5.0_06
jdk1.5.0_12
jdk1.5.0_14