How do I analyze a .hprof file?

JavaProfilingHeap Memory

Java Problem Overview

I have a production server running with the following flag: -XX:+HeapDumpOnOutOfMemoryError

Last night it generated a java-38942.hprof file when our server encountered a heap error. It turns out that the developers of the system knew of the flag but no way to get any useful information from it.

Any ideas?

Java Solutions

Solution 1 - Java

If you want a fairly advanced tool to do some serious poking around, look at the Memory Analyzer project at Eclipse, contributed to them by SAP.

Some of what you can do is mind-blowingly good for finding memory leaks etc -- including running a form of limited SQL (OQL) against the in-memory objects, i.e.

> SELECT toString(firstName) FROM com.yourcompany.somepackage.User

Totally brilliant.

Solution 2 - Java

You can use JHAT, The Java Heap Analysis Tool provided by default with the JDK. It's command line but starts a web server/browser you use to examine the memory. Not the most user friendly, but at least it's already installed most places you'll go. A very useful view is the "heap histogram" link at the very bottom.

ex: jhat -port 7401 -J-Xmx4G dump.hprof

jhat can execute OQL "these days" as well (bottom link "execute OQL")

Solution 3 - Java

You can also use HeapWalker from the Netbeans Profiler or the Visual VM stand-alone tool. Visual VM is a good alternative to JHAT as it is stand alone, but is much easier to use than JHAT.

You need Java 6+ to fully use Visual VM.

Solution 4 - Java

Just get the Eclipse Memory Analyzer. There's nothing better out there and it's free.

JHAT is only usable for "toy applications"

Solution 5 - Java

I personally prefer VisualVM. One of the features I like in VisualVM is heap dump comparison. When you are doing a heap dump analysis there are various ways to go about figuring out what caused the crash. One of the ways I have found useful is doing a comparison of healthy vs unhealthy heap dumps.

Following are the steps you can follow for it :

  1. Getting a heap dump of OutOfMemoryError let's call it "oome.hprof". You can get this via JVM parameter HeapDumpOnOutOfMemoryError.
  2. Restart the application let it run for a bit (minutes/hours) depending on your application. Get another heap dump while the application is still running. Let's call it "healthy.hprof".
  3. You can open both these dumps in VisualVM and do a heap dump comparison. You can do it on class or package level. This can often point you into the direction of the issue.

link : https://visualvm.github.io

Solution 6 - Java

YourKit Java Profiler seems to handle them too.

Solution 7 - Java

If you want to do a custom analysis of your heapdump then there's:

This library is fast but you will need to write your analysis code in Java.

From the docs:

  • Does not create any temporary files on disk to process heap dump
  • Can work directly GZ compressed heap dumps
  • HeapPath notation
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Content TypeOriginal AuthorOriginal Content on Stackoverflow
QuestionNick StinematesView Question on Stackoverflow
Solution 1 - JavaCowanView Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 2 - JavaChristian C. SalvadóView Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 3 - JavaJames SchekView Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 4 - JavakohlermView Answer on Stackoverflow
Solution 5 - JavaWaleedView Answer on Stackoverflow
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