Get heap dump from a remote application in Java using JVisualVM

Question

I run JVisualVM (Windows XP, Sun Java 1.6.0.13, 32 bit client VM) to monitor a distant application (Linux, Sun Java 1.6.0.07, 64 bit server VM). Before starting the actual remote application, I launch on the remote machine jstatd using an all access policy:

grant codebase "file:${java.home}/../lib/tools.jar" {
   permission java.security.AllPermission;
};

Then I start the actual app using the command line

 java -Dcom.sun.management.jmxremote.authenticate=false 
-Dcom.sun.management.jmxremote.ssl=false 
-Dcom.sun.management.jmxremote.port=3333 
compileTest.Main

From the client machine, I can see the distant app and monitor it. I can also make a thread dump etc. Unfortunately, the heap-dump button is grayed out.

How can I obtain a heap-dump from a remotely monitored application using JVisualVM?

I tried using jConsole. With jConsole it is possible to make a distant heap dump using the com.sun.management.HotSpotDiagnostic dumpHeap operation. I want the dump to be transferred to the client side and analyzed using the tools provided by JVisualVM. How can I do this?

Solution 1

Unfortunately there isn't an automated way to do this. You'll have to run jmap manually on the Linux server to dump the heap of your JVM and then copy the resultant heap dump to your local machine running JVisualVM and use File|Load... to load the heap dump into JVisualVM for analysis.

Solution 2

Since 1.3, VisualVM support remote heap dumps:

Starting with VisualVM 1.3, you can now use the Heap Dump actions and buttons in the tool to take a heap dump of applications that are running remotely. When invoked, a dialog is displayed that enables you to specify the full path on the remote system where you want to dump the heap. After the heap dump is created, you need to manually copy the file to your local machine and use the Load action to open and analyze the file using VisualVM.

See: VisualVM 1.3 Released