Runtime.exec Problem with setting environment

Question

Hello
I will run a command with a new process environment. As example I take "ls". If I use the "exec(String)" method it works fine (like it should; my PATH is ...:/usr/bin:...).
Next when I use "exec(String cmd, String[] env)" with cmd = ls and env = {PATH=} then the programm also prints out the listing of the current directory. In my opinion this shoudn't work.
I have the problem using jdk1.2.2 (Solaris VM (build olaris_JDK_1.2.2_10, native threads, sunwjit)) on Solaris 8.
As I understand the exec the method should work like this:
1. fork a new Process
2 set environment for the new process
3 exec the new Programm in this process
Is this statement right?
On Solaris 2.6 the program works fine and I get an IOException.
Some hints way the env for the process isn't set?
Thanks
========================================================
import java.io.*;
public class Test {
/** Version der Klasse. */
public static final String VERSION = "$Revision:$";
public static void main(String[] arg) {
try {
call("ls", new String[]{"PATH="});
} catch (Exception ex) {
System.out.println(ex);
private static void call(String cmd, String[] env)
throws Exception
Runtime rt = Runtime.getRuntime();
try {
System.out.println(cmd);
Process p = rt.exec(cmd, env);
StreamGobbler errorGobbler = new
StreamGobbler(p.getErrorStream(), "ERROR", System.err);
StreamGobbler outputGobbler = new
StreamGobbler(p.getInputStream(), "OUTPUT", System.out);
errorGobbler.start();
outputGobbler.start();
try {
p.waitFor();
} catch (InterruptedException e) {
if (p.exitValue() != 0) {
throw new Exception("Process failed");
} catch (IOException ex) {
System.out.println("IOException: " + ex.toString());
class StreamGobbler extends Thread {
private InputStream m_input;
private OutputStream m_output;
private String m_type;
private StringBuffer m_message;
StreamGobbler(InputStream is, String type, OutputStream os) {
this.m_input = is;
this.m_output = os;
this.m_type = type;
this.m_message = new StringBuffer();
outputGobbler.start();
try {
p.waitFor();
} catch (InterruptedException e) {
if (p.exitValue() != 0) {
throw new Exception("Process failed");
} catch (IOException ex) {
System.out.println("IOException: " + ex.toString());
class StreamGobbler extends Thread {
private InputStream m_input;
private OutputStream m_output;
private String m_type;
private StringBuffer m_message;
StreamGobbler(InputStream is, String type, OutputStream os) {
this.m_input = is;
this.m_output = os;
this.m_type = type;
this.m_message = new StringBuffer();
public synchronized void run() {
try {
InputStreamReader reader = new InputStreamReader(m_input);
BufferedReader bufferedReader = new BufferedReader(reader);
PrintWriter writer = new PrintWriter(m_output, true);
String line = null;
while ( (line = bufferedReader.readLine()) != null) {
writer.println(m_type + "> " + line);
this.m_message.append(m_type + "> " + line + "\r\n");
} catch (IOException ioe) {
ioe.printStackTrace();
public synchronized String getMessage() {
return this.m_message.toString();

Answer 1

I'm having the same problem...
Have you been able to solve your problem yet?