IZ32966: Patchman can enter an infinite loop when removing a patch.

IBM Tivoli 4.0.0-TIV-SSM-FP0010
IBM Tivoli 4.0.0-TIV-SSM-FP0011
IBM Netcool System Service Monitor SSM 4.0 Fix Pack 12 README 4.0.0-TIV-SSM-FP0012
IBM Netcool System Service Monitor SSM 4.0 Fix Pack 13 README 4.0.0-TIV-SSM-FP0013
IBM Netcool System Service Monitor SSM 4.0 Fix Pack 14 README 4.0.0-TIV-SSM-FP0014
IBM Netcool System Service Monitor SSM 4.0 Interim Fix 1 README 4.0.0.14-TIV-SSM-IF0001
IBM Netcool System Service Monitor SSM 4.0 Interim Fix 2 README 4.0.0.14-TIV-SSM-IF0002
IBM Netcool System Service Monitor SSM 4.0 Interim Fix 3 README 4.0.0.14-TIV-SSM-IF0003
IBM Netcool System Service Monitor SSM 4.0 Interim Fix 4 README 4.0.0.14-TIV-SSM-IF0004
IBM Netcool System Service Monitor SSM 4.0 Interim Fix 5 README 4.0.0.14-TIV-SSM-IF0005
IBM Netcool System Service Monitor SSM 4.0 Interim Fix 6 README 4.0.0.14-TIV-SSM-IF0006
IBM Netcool System Service Monitor SSM 4.0 Interim Fix 7 README 4.0.0.14-TIV-SSM-IF0007
IBM Netcool System Service Monitor SSM 4.0 Interim Fix 8 README 4.0.0.14-TIV-SSM-IF0008
IBM Netcool System Service Monitor SSM 4.0 Interim Fix 1 README 4.0.0.15-TIV-SSM-IF0001

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• If you try to uninstall a patch on Unix systems when the agent
  has been abnormally terminated, either a crash or forcefully
  killed through kill -9, patchman will enter an infinite loop
  trying to uninstall the patch. The user will see the following
  output repeated:
  
  IBM Tivoli Netcool/SSM is not running as a service.
  IBM Tivoli Netcool/SSM is not running as a service.
  IBM Tivoli Netcool/SSM is not running as a service.
  IBM Tivoli Netcool/SSM is not running as a service.
  IBM Tivoli Netcool/SSM is not running as a service.
  IBM Tivoli Netcool/SSM is not running as a service.
  IBM Tivoli Netcool/SSM is not running as a service.
  IBM Tivoli Netcool/SSM is not running as a service.
  IBM Tivoli Netcool/SSM is not running as a service.
  IBM Tivoli Netcool/SSM is not running as a service.
  IBM Tivoli Netcool/SSM is not running as a service.
  
  The only way to stop this is to break out of the patchman
  process with a control-c.
  

Local fix

• Break out of the patchman process and start and stop the agent
  normally. Then try and uninstall again.
  
  If it's not possible to start and stop the agent, then remove
  the lock file in /var/tmp. The lock file should have a name
  similar to:
  
  NetcoolSSMPID_161@_opt_netcool_ssm_bin
  

Problem summary

• If the agent was not shut down gracefully and the lock file in
  /var/tmp was left behind then the patchman program will not be
  able to remove a patch and will instead print out infinite
  output. Note: This defect does not affect Windows based system.
  

Problem conclusion

• Fixed the patchman process running detection algorithm so that
  it will continue to remove a patch even if the agent wasn't shut
  down properly.
  
  The fix for this APAR is contained in the following maintenance
  packages:
     | fix pack | 4.0.0-TIV-SSM-FP0006
  

Temporary fix

Comments

APAR Information

• APAR is sysrouted FROM one or more of the following:

• APAR is sysrouted TO one or more of the following:

Fix information

• Fixed component name

  NETCOOL SYS SVC

• Fixed component ID

  5724P4300

Applicable component levels

• R400 PSY

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