Install Jstack On Ubuntu [exclusive] [TOP]
The jstack utility is an essential tool for troubleshooting Java application performance issues, such as deadlocks or hung threads. On Ubuntu, it is part of the Java Development Kit (JDK) but is notably absent from the Java Runtime Environment (JRE). 1. Identify the Correct Package
To get jstack, you must install a full JDK package. Ubuntu’s default package manager, apt, provides several versions. The most common choice is the default JDK, which automatically points to the latest stable version (currently OpenJDK 21 for Ubuntu 24.04).
default-jdk: Installs the standard version recommended for your Ubuntu release.
openjdk-[version]-jdk: Installs a specific version, such as openjdk-17-jdk or openjdk-11-jdk.
openjdk-[version]-jdk-headless: A smaller package for servers without a GUI, which still includes jstack. 2. Installation Steps Follow these commands in your terminal to install jstack: Update the package index: sudo apt update Use code with caution. Install the JDK:To install the default version, run: sudo apt install default-jdk Use code with caution. install jstack on ubuntu
If you need a specific version to match your running application (e.g., Java 17), use: sudo apt install openjdk-17-jdk Use code with caution.
Verify the installation:Check if jstack is now available in your system path: jstack -version Use code with caution. Does OpenJDK have a tool similar to jstack (Oracle Java)?
To install jstack on Ubuntu, you must install a full Java Development Kit (JDK). While the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) allows you to run Java applications, it does not include diagnostic tools like jstack, jmap, or jcmd. Step 1: Check for Existing Installations
Before installing, verify if jstack is already available on your system by checking the version: jstack -version Use code with caution. The jstack utility is an essential tool for
If you see "command not found," proceed with the installation steps below. Step 2: Install OpenJDK (Recommended)
The easiest method is to use the official Ubuntu repositories to install OpenJDK. To install the latest default version: sudo apt update sudo apt install default-jdk Use code with caution. To install a specific version (e.g., OpenJDK 21 or 17):
sudo apt install openjdk-21-jdk # OR sudo apt install openjdk-17-jdk Use code with caution. Step 3: Set Up Environment Variables
After installation, you may need to add the JDK's bin directory to your system's PATH so you can run jstack from any directory. Download provided APT repo or
Get thread dumps using the “jstack” command - Perforce Support
Option B — Install Temurin (Adoptium) or other vendor builds (if you need a specific distribution)
- Download provided APT repo or .deb from vendor (Temurin instructions: add APT repo and key).
- Install the desired temurin-jdk package (e.g., temurin-17-jdk).
- Verify with
java -versionandwhich jstack.
Wrong Java version error
# Install matching JDK version
sudo apt install openjdk-11-jdk # Match your Java runtime version
"Operation not permitted" even with sudo
- On some Ubuntu kernels, you may need to disable
ptracerestrictions:
To make permanent, editecho 0 | sudo tee /proc/sys/kernel/yama/ptrace_scope/etc/sysctl.d/10-ptrace.confand setkernel.yama.ptrace_scope = 0.
Summary
jstack is a JVM diagnostic utility that prints Java thread stack traces for a running Java process. It’s part of the JDK (Java Development Kit). On Ubuntu, you obtain jstack by installing an appropriate JDK (OpenJDK or Oracle JDK). This report covers prerequisites, installation options, common commands, permissions, troubleshooting, and verification.
2. Generate a Thread Dump
Run jstack followed by the PID to print the thread dump to your console.
jstack 2345
Save to file
jstack <PID> > thread_dump.txt
1. Check if jstack is already available
jstack --version
If you see a version output, jstack is already installed. If you get command not found, proceed with installation.
5. For a core dump (rare)
jstack <executable> <core_file>