Troubleshooting Informix

Several troubleshooting techniques, tools, and resources are available for resolving problems that you encounter in your Informix® database server environment.

Use this general approach for troubleshooting problems:

1. Determine if the problem is a known software defect...

Check the IBM® Support Portal for Informix.

• Search for keywords related to your problem to find problem reports, workarounds, patches, or fix packs.

2. If the problem is not a known software defect, diagnose the problem...

Check the Informix online log.

The log file is in INFORMIXDIR/tmp/online.log by default, or in the location set by MSGPATH. The log contains messages about the database server status and errors.

• Verify that normal operations are logging successfully (startup, checkpoints, shut down).
• Look for messages about problems that occurred (for example, process aborted abnormal).
• Run the finderr command with the message number to find information about that message and follow the recommendations (for example, restart the database server, run a particular command or utility).

Monitor the database server.

• If the alarm program is configured, examine event alarms and take appropriate actions.
• Use one of the following resources to check for memory issues, network issues, disk-space issues, and so on:
  • If the database server is online: IBM Informix Health Advisor Plug-in for OpenAdmin Tool (OAT)
  • onstat utility

Search Informix community resources, such as blogs, forums, wikis.

3. If the problem cannot be resolved, contact IBM Software Support...

Define the problem, gather background information, and determine the severity of the problem.

• Follow the instructions in Getting IBM support (Software Support Handbook).