import signature files from iSeries

Here is how I imported the company's digital certificate (key pair) from iSeries machine:

1. get the KDB file from the iSeries file structure and move it to a windows box
2. Use a java-based tool named iKeyMan.bat to open the key db file. The tool is shipped with Websphere product.
3. export the key pair to an existing "jks" format file which is java keystore. The file will server as the keystore, and can be used to sign jar files.

DB connection error in websphere + iSeries

Recently we have a stale connections problems in a WebSphere App server running on iSeries database. I realized the problem might be the getConnection() method is not synchronized(serialized) at the JDBC driver implementation. So two threads can potentially get the same connection and step on each other. It sounds like a bug to me. The solution is easy, just synchronize the code that call getConnection() method, of course, I am assuming the calling class is already in a Singleton mode.