OA48989: UNICODE CONVERSION INFORMATION SERVICE FAILS RC8 RSNB SYSTEM TOD CLOCK TIMESTAMP EXCEEDS 12/15/2015 13:24:57.238527 CUNLINFO

9.1.0.0-Rational-RDT-iFix01
9.0.0.0-Rational-RDT-iFix01
8.5.0.0-Rational-RDT-iFix01

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• Unicode Services conversion information service (CUNLINFO or
  CUN4LINF) fails when the create time contained in the UCCB has a
  value of D0000000 00000000 or greater.  This timestamp
  represents a STCK value of 12/15/2015 13:24:57.238528.  The
  source of this value is the Time of Day (TOD) clock of the
  system and is initialized by Unicode at IPL.
  
  If the system is IPL'd before the timestamp above is reached
  then the problem will not occur. If the system is IPL'd after
  the timestamp has been reached then the RC8 RSNB will be issued
  by Unicode Conversion Information Service.  This problem
  occurs at z/OS 1.10 and higher.
  
  See APAR OA48941 for z/OS 1.13, 2.1, and 2.2
  
  Impacted Users:
     Any application code that calls CUNLINFO or CUN4LINF at z/OS
     1.10 and higher, whether it is an OEM, customer created,
     or IBM application will receive RC8 RSNB.  Impact is
     unknown because it will depend on how this is implemented in
     their application.  It is unknown if any exploiters exist at
     z/OS 1.10, 1.11, 1.12, or 1.13.
  
  Verification Steps:
  
  1. Caller of CUNLINFO / CUN4LINF receives RC8 RSNB when invoking
     the service.  The caller may handle that and issue its own
     Abend / Message
  
  2. Find the UCCB in a dump of the system or ACTIVE under IPCS,
     with the following commands:
  
     ip list 10?+220?+3C?+10 len(x'8')
  
     example output:
     LIST 28F03000. ASID(X'0029') POSITION(X'+10') LENGTH(X'08')
     AREA
     address   value
     28F03010. D0038037 8DEAB02A
               -----------------
  3. If the value that is listed in step 2 contains non-zero value
     and is x'D00000000 00000000' or greater, then this APAR
     describes your problem.
  
  
  Additional Keywords
  RC04 RSN0B CUNMUNI
  

Local fix

• 1. Do not change system TOD clock to 12/15/2015 13:24:57.238528
     or greater, during your IPL.
  
  2. Do not IPL after 12/15/2015 without the fix for this
     problem applied.
      - This is the date when the TOD clock will automatically
        exceed D0000000 00000000 and you will experience the
        problem.
  

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  * USERS AFFECTED: All users of Unicode Services                *
  *                 conversion information service               *
  *                 CUNLINFO or CUN4LINF.                        *
  *                                                              *
  *                 Any application that calls iconv at          *
  *                 z/OS 2.1 and higher.                         *
  *                                                              *
  *                 Any application that uses system code        *
  *                 that calls iconv at z/OS 2.1 and higher.     *
  *                 (For example Telnet or FTP and many          *
  *                 others see the APAR for more detail.)        *
  ****************************************************************
  * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: Unicode Services conversion information *
  *                      service fails when the TOD clock for    *
  *                      the IPL has a value of                  *
  *                      D0000000 00000000 or greater, this      *
  *                      timestamp represents a STCK value of    *
  *                      12/15/2015 13:24:57.238528.             *
  *                                                              *
  *                      The iconv function uses the information *
  *                      service so it also fails.               *
  ****************************************************************
  * RECOMMENDATION: Install this fix until before 12/15/2015.    *
  *                 This is the date when the TOD clock          *
  *                 will automatically exceed                    *
  *                 D0000000 00000000 and this problem           *
  *                 will occur without this fix.                 *
  ****************************************************************
  Correct the code involved to move the timestamp field to
  allow the Unicode services active indicator to remain valid.
  

Problem conclusion

• After this fix is applied, Unicode Services conversion
  information service will behave correctly when the TOD
  clock exceeds D0000000 00000000.
  

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:

  UA79321 UA79322 UA79323

Modules/Macros

• CUNMIDAC CUNMIIN2 CUNMZIMG
  

Fix information

• Fixed component name

  UNICODE SUPPORT

• Fixed component ID

  5752SCUNI

Applicable component levels

• R750 PSY UA79321

     UP15/10/13 P F510

• R760 PSY UA79322

     UP15/10/13 P F510

• R770 PSY UA79323

     UP15/10/13 P F510

Fix is available

• Select the PTF appropriate for your component level. You will be required to sign in. Distribution on physical media is not available in all countries.