Minimserver will not start (LibjliOpenError)

[iGlenn]

Hello. I have been using MinimServer for some years now, but suddenly it will not start. I have tried uninstalling and installing both MinimServer and Java. Running on Mac Mini M2 Pro, Sequoia 15.5

Current installed java version JDK21:

Matching Java Virtual Machines (1): 21.0.8 (arm64)

(Have also tried JDK24 with same result.)

MinimServer 2.2.R4 (2.2 update 259)

When trying to open the normal way... Always getting the LibjliOpenError message, and server will not start

If i go into the folder applications/minimserver/contents/java/
and doubleclick mserver.jar then the server starts up fine (but some functionality is missing, like show log). But i am able to listen to my music.

If i go into the folder applications/minimserver/contents/MacOS
and doubleclick MinimServer... The server starts up fine, and as far as i have been able to figure out has full functionality. For instance here is the top of the log file it created:

MinimServer 2.2 update 259, Copyright © 2012-2025 Simon Nash. All rights reserved.
Java™ SE Runtime Environment (build 21.0.8+12-LTS-250)
Java HotSpot™ 64-Bit Server VM (build 21.0.8+12-LTS-250, mixed mode, sharing)
Java runtime options: -Dfile.encoding=UTF-8
Platform default charset is UTF-8
System platform is macos-arm



It seems to be working, but i need to have the terminal window open... If i close it then the server quits.

Result is the same if i doubleclick ServerLaunchJava

However when i doubleclick mscript, located in applications/minimserver/contents/

This happens:

Last login: Wed Jul 23 05:17:01 on ttys000
/Applications/MinimServer.app/Contents/mscript ; exit;
(censored)Mac-Mini ~ % /Applications/MinimServer.app/Contents/mscript ; exit;
Java is not installed

Saving session...
...copying shared history...
...saving history...truncating history files...
...completed.

[Process completed]


Any tips on how i can get the server to start and fully function the normal way?

[simoncn]

Please post the full output from this command:

/usr/libexec/java_home -V

[iGlenn]

(23-07-2025 13:28)simoncn Wrote:  Please post the full output from this command:

/usr/libexec/java_home -V

Matching Java Virtual Machines (1):
21.0.8 (arm64) "Oracle Corporation" - "Java SE 21.0.8" /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk-21.jdk/Contents/Home
/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk-21.jdk/Contents/Home

[simoncn]

Thanks for this. The LibjliOpenError message is usually caused by the MinimServer launcher finding a libjli.dylib file for the wrong platform architecture (x64 instead of arm64). Is it possible that you installed x64 Java on this Mac mini at some point in the past and haven't removed it completely?

MinimServer searches for libjli.dylib files using this command:

Code:

/usr/bin/find /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk-21.jdk -name libjli.dylib

Try running this command from a Terminal window to see what files it finds. I found two copies of libjli.dylib, both built for arm64.

Also, has MinimServer ever worked correctly on this Mac mini? If so, what changed on the Mac mini just before it stopped working?

[iGlenn]

Running the command gives this result:

/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk-21.jdk/Contents/Home/lib/libjli.dylib
/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk-21.jdk/Contents/MacOS/libjli.dylib

This mac was restored from a timemachine-backup wich came from a intel-based mac, so yes i gather there has been a x64-java installed on it at some point. I believe i have properly uninstalled it, using both the installer to uninstall, and also the terminal commands listed on java.com ( https://www.java.com/en/download/help/ma..._java.html )

I purchased this mac five months ago, and started using it right away. I am 99% sure i have listened to music several times in the last five months, but when the last time was i have no clear recollection of, and hence no clear understanding of "what has changed" since it last worked correctly. Sorry.

Anyway, i just cracked this case wide open. While writing this reply. Came to think about rosetta, and maybe it had something to do with that. Read about it here:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/102527

Specifically the "does your app need Rosetta?" part. Right-clicked on MinimServer and chose GET INFO. And lowe and behold... It was checked at "Open using Rosetta". Unchecked it... And VOILA, now it worked as it should.

So i gather it was working with the x64-java + rosetta... But i at some point updated java, and got the arm64... And then MinimServer opening in Rosetta made it crash?

[simoncn]

Thanks for this. I tried setting "Open using Rosetta" on MinimServer and I get the LibjliOpenError message even though I have never had Java x64 installed.

The problem occurs because MinimServer uses universal binaries (containing both amd64 and x64 code) but Java has separate downloads for amd64 only and x64 only. When you open MinimServer using Rosetta, the following happens:

1) The MinimServer binary is loaded, running the x64 code
2) The x64 MinimServer binary code tries to load libjli to start Java
3) Only the amd64 binary version of libjli is available
4) An x64 binary executable can't load an amd64 library, so you get the LibjliOpenError message

The other things you mentioned in your original post are as expected with one exception. The error when running mscript is a bug and I will fix it in the next version of MinimServer for macOS.

[iGlenn]

Thanks for the explanation (and the help)! Much appreciated