1974107 - SDM fails to start with exitcode 8

The Software Deployment Manager (SDM) does not start and you see the following error on the dev_sdm log:

[Thr 4884] JLaunchIExitJava: exit hook is called (rc = 8)
[Thr 4884] **********************************************************************
[Thr 4884] *** ERROR => The Java VM terminated with a non-zero exit code.
[Thr 4884] *** Please see SAP Note 943602 , section 'J2EE Engine exit codes'
[Thr 4884] *** for additional information and trouble shooting.
[Thr 4884] **********************************************************************
[Thr 4884] SigISetIgnoreAction : SIG_IGN for signal SIGCHLD
[Thr 4884] JLaunchCloseProgram: good bye (exitcode = 8)

On the jvm_sdm.out you see these entries:

Starting SDM - Software Deployment Manager...
tc/SL/SDM/SDM/sap.com/SAP AG/7.0209.20110919181905.0000
JStartupFramework is requesting to start the SDM Server.
SDM is not integrated in JStartupFramework. This is an illegal state.
Could not start SDM. Precondition not fulfilled. Return code: 8

These logs are located on the work folder of the system, which is ../usr/sap/<SID>/<INSTANCE_NUMBER>/work

SAP NetWeaver Application Server Java

exitcode = 8, rc = 8, JStartupFramework, This is an illegal state, Precondition not fulfilled, return code , KBA , BC-CTS-SDM , Software Delivery Manager for Java , Problem