Mustgather: Read first for problems encountered with Enterprise PL/I for z/OS

Answer

Gathering general information

Gathering problem specific information

Submitting information to IBM Support

General hints and tips

What is a Mustgather document and how does it help me?

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Gathering general information

General information is information that is needed for any reported problem, and this information includes the following:

• Action you were attempting at the time of the failure.
• Operating system version, release, and PTF level. This information can be obtained through SMP/E.
• Compiler version, release, and modification level. Click here for information about how to obtain this information.
• Compiler PTF level. This information can be obtained through SMP/E.
• Subsystem (CICS, DB2, IMS) version, release, modification, and PTF levels, if applicable.
• A valid contact phone number and email address.

Gathering problem specific information

Compiler problem

Run-time problem

Compiler problem

Gather the following documentation for compiler problems before calling IBM support:

• Listings for the application programs involved. Use AG,A,F(I),LIST,MAP,OFFSET,S,XREF.
• If you are using the CICS compiler option, provide the CICS version, release, modification level, and PTF level. PTF level information can be obtained through SMP/E.
• If you are using the SQL compiler option, provide the DB2 version, release, modification level, and PTF level. PTF level information can be obtained through SMP/E.
• Source code for the program being compiled with all include files. If you are using Enterprise PL/I V3R1 or later, you can instead use the MDECK compiler option to get merged source code output. For more information about the MDECK command, refer to Chapter 1 of the Enterprise PL/I for z/OS Programming Guide at http://www-306.ibm.com/software/awdtools/pli/plizos/library/.
• References to the product documentation if you believe that the compiler is not working as designed.

Run-time problem

Gather the following documentation for run-time problems before calling IBM support:

• If your application abended, include the following:
• SYSMDUMP. For information on how to request a dump, refer to http://www.ibm.com/servers/eserver/zseries/zos/le/assist/support/10573r7.html.
• Determine if the abend is in IBM code or in your application code.
• Listings for the application programs involved. Use AG,A,F(I),LIST,MAP,OFFSET,S,XREF compile options.
• A small, reproducible testcase (if possible).
• Run-time library version, release, and PTF level.
• Provide a JOBLOG if available.
• If your environment includes a CICS region, include a SYSMDUMP that includes CICS region information. For information on creating a SYSMDUMP that includes CICS region informtion, click here.

Submitting information to IBM Support

After a Problem Management Record (PMR) is open, you can submit diagnostic MustGather data to IBM using one of the following methods outlined on the Enhanced Customer Data Repository (ECuRep) page.



General hints and tips

• Compiler versions hint:
  The compiler listing page header provides information about the version, release, and modification level of the compiler that was used to compile your program.
  For example: 5655-H31 IBM Enterprise PL/I for z/OS V3.R5.M0 (Built:20070424) indicates Version 3 Release 5 Modification 0 built April 4th 2007.
  
  
• CICS Dump:
  To create a SYSMDUMP that includes full CICS trace details, you must specify the following settings:
• For CETR, all domains defined as 1 except for AP which is defined 1-2
• Trace Table Size must be set at a minimum of 12 megabytes.
  Review the section on Generating a SYSTEM DUMP in a CICS Run-Time Environment
  
  
• Search for known problems on the Enterprise PL/I Web site.
  
  
• Search the Enterprise PL/I for z/OS documentation in the Enterprise PL/I for z/OS documentation library
  
• Search Lookat Messages for detailed message information.
  
  
• Review Preventive Service Planning buckets if you are installing or migrating Enterprise PL/I for z/OS.

What is a Mustgather document and how does it help me?

MustGather documents aid in problem determination and save time resolving Problem Management Records (PMRs). These documents are located on the product support sites and contain specific instructions about what documentation to gather for specific problems. You can find MustGather documents by searching on the word MustGather on the eSupport Web page:

Collecting MustGather data early, even before opening the PMR, helps IBM Support quickly determine if:

1. Symptoms match known problems (rediscovery).
   
   
2. There is a non-defect problem that can be identified and resolved.
   
   
3. There is a defect that identifies a workaround to reduce severity.
   
   
4. Locating root cause can speed development of a code fix.