When you enable debugging, you enable both local and remote debugging. To start the server in debug mode, use the --debug option as follows:
asadmin start-domain --debug [domain-name]
You can then attach to the server from the Java Debugger (jdb) at its default Java Platform Debugger Architecture (JPDA) port, which is 9009. For example, for UNIX® systems:
jdb -attach 9009
For Windows:
jdb -connect com.sun.jdi.SocketAttach:port=9009
For more information about the jdb debugger, see the following links:
Java Platform Debugger Architecture - The Java Debugger: http://java.sun.com/products/jpda/doc/soljdb.html
Java Platform Debugger Architecture - Connecting with JDB: http://java.sun.com/products/jpda/doc/conninv.html#JDB
Application Server debugging is based on the JPDA (Java Platform Debugger Architecture). For more information, see JPDA Options.
You can attach to the Application Server using any JPDA compliant debugger, including that of NetBeans, Sun Java Studio, JBuilder, Eclipse, and so on.
You can enable debugging even when the application server is started without the --debug option. This is useful if you start the application server from the Windows Start Menu or if you want to make sure that debugging is always turned on.
Select the JVM Settings component under the relevant configuration in the Administration Console.
Check the Debug Enabled box.
To specify a different port (from 9009, the default) to use when attaching the JVM to a debugger, specify address= port-number in the Debug Options field.
If you wish to add JPDA options, add any desired JPDA debugging options in Debug Options. See JPDA Options.
For details, see the Sun Java System Application Server Enterprise Edition 8.2 Administration Guide.