java - Why can't I attach jvisualvm to an instance of tomcat started from inside osx? -

i'm starting tomcat inside netbeans. i'd monitor heap usage on instance of tomcat fire jvisualvm. process isn't listed. ideas?

are using java version 6u24? may fall victim this bug fixed in 6u25 (in nutshell, jvisualvm can't find process' hsperfdata).

otherwise, have enable monitoring via jmx:

pass following jvm parameters tomcat:

-dcom.sun.management.jmxremote.port=8888 -dcom.sun.management.jmxremote.ssl=false -dcom.sun.management.jmxremote.authenticate=false 

then add remote process jvisualvm via file -> add jmx connection. can connect process using port 8888

jvisualvm has other gotchas, e.g. user starting jvisualvm needs same user owning process want monitor (although, don't think issue). see more here.