As of 5.6 when we implemented G1GC as the default, in setenv.sh/setenv.bat, the default environment variable for JVM parameters has changed to CATALINA_OPTS, instead of JAVA_OPTS.

This has the potential to cause confusion for customers:

• If both exist and specify different parameters, which will be effective?
• Customers may change one and not the other, and expect their changes to be picked up. This can greatly increase troubleshooting time
• Documentation may reference one or the other and customers may have difficulty implementing advised changes, and need to contact Support (friction)

For Support:

• We now have to update documentation to give different advice based on versions, eg here
• Support engineers need to know that this changed, so we can advise customers of the correct method depending on their version