Diagnosing problems using start options

The following start options provide help with problem diagnosis. You can implement these when you start VTAM®.

ASIRFMSG: Enables you to specify the SSCPs in which to issue messages IST890I and IST896I when an autologon session initiation request fails.
BSCMDRS: Enables you to specify which BSC miscellaneous data records are to be recorded in LOGREC.
DSIRFMSG: Enables you to specify the SSCPs in which to issue messages IST663I, IST664I, IST889I, and their message groups when searches that might not result in a session fail to locate the target resource.
Recommendation: Because of the volume of messages that can be generated, it is recommended that you disable this option during normal operation. It is recommended that you enable this option (using the MODIFY VTAMOPTS command) on all necessary hosts only when trying to diagnose specific problems. After the problem has been diagnosed or documentation has been collected, you should again disable this option (using the MODIFY VTAMOPTS command).

Tip: When SIRFMSG is coded on CDRSC definition statements, the DSIRFMSG function (for DLU resources) and SIRFMSG function (for OLU and DLU resources) are run. This can be helpful in diagnosing problems involving those CDRSC resources.
ESIRFMSG: Enables you to specify the SSCPs in which to issue messages IST890I, IST892I, and IST893I when a session initiation request fails and extended sense data exists.
FSIRFMSG: Enables you to specify the SSCPs in which to issue additional search routing failure messages when sense data exists. When used in conjunction with the SIRFMSG or DSIRFMSG option, the FSIRFMSG option controls whether messages IST894I, IST895I, IST1704I, and IST1705I are issued. When used in conjunction with the LSIRFMSG option, the FSIRFMSG option controls whether messages IST2208I, IST2209I and IST1942I through IST1953I are issued.
INOPCODE: Enables a specific inoperative condition, if experienced by any resource, to take a VTAM dump.
Restriction: Both the resource (INOPDUMP) and condition (INOPCODE) must be enabled in order for a dump to be taken.
INOPDUMP: Enables a resource, if and when it experiences an inoperative condition, to take a VTAM dump.
Restriction: Both the resource (INOPDUMP) and condition (INOPCODE) must be enabled in order for a dump to be taken.
IOINT: Enables you to request that VTAM inform the operator when a VTAM request is not answered after a specified interval of time. After the period of time specified by IOINT, VTAM issues a message to the operator. If VTAM issues the message multiple times for the same request or several different requests, initiate the appropriate diagnostic actions to resolve the problem.
LSIRFMSG: Enables you to specify the network nodes in which to issue messages IST663I, IST664I, IST889I, and their message subgroups when APPN locates fail to locate the target resource.
Recommendation: Because of the volume of messages that can be generated, it is recommended that you disable this option during normal operation. It is recommended that you enable this option (using the MODIFY VTAMOPTS command) on all necessary hosts only when trying to diagnose specific problems. After the problem has been diagnosed or documentation has been collected, you should again disable this option (using the MODIFY VTAMOPTS command).

Tip: When SIRFMSG and CPNAME are coded on CDRSC definition statements, the SIRFMSG setting will override the LSIRFMSG start option (for DLU resources). This can be helpful in diagnosing problems involving those CDRSC resources.
MSGMOD: Enables you to see the name of the module from which a message is issued. If you specify MSGMOD=YES, VTAM inserts the last five characters of the module name that issued the message, following the VTAM message identifier (for example, ISTnnnI). However, using MSGMOD causes the last five characters of the message to be truncated if the message exceeds the maximum console message length allowed by the operating system.
NMVTLOG: Enables you to specify whether error records are written to the operating system's error data set (LOGREC). If NMVTLOG=NPDA (the default), VTAM records alerts in LOGREC only when the NetView® hardware monitor, NPDA, is not active. If NMVTLOG=ALWAYS, VTAM always records alerts in LOGREC. If NMVTLOG=NEVER, VTAM never records them.
PPOLOG: Enables you to specify whether to send operator commands and their resulting messages to the primary program operator for logging.
PSSTRACE: Enables you to specify whether to record IRB and SRB entries in the VTAM internal trace table when the PSS trace option is in effect.
RSIRFMSG: Enables you to specify the SSCPs in which to issue messages IST1460I, IST1461I, IST2102I, IST2103I, and IST2104I to display the RSCV when a session initiation request fails and RSCV data exists.
SDLCMDRS: Enables you to specify whether SDLC statistical miscellaneous data records (MDRs) are written to LOGREC. If SDLCMDRS=YES (the default), VTAM records SDLC statistical MDRs in LOGREC.
SIRFMSG: Enables you to specify the SSCPs in which to issue messages IST663I, IST664I, IST889I, and their message groups when a session initiation request fails.
Note: SIRFMSG can also be coded on the APPL and CDRSC definition statements to help diagnose problems involving those resources. Coding SIRFMSG on a CDRSC definition statement also enables the DSIRFMSG function and the LSIRFMSG function (if CPNAME is also coded) for that resource.
SNAPREQ: Enables you to specify the number of requests for VTAM buffers between snapshot dumps.
TNSTAT: Enables you to specify whether, where, and how frequently to record tuning statistics.
TRACE: Enables you to collect information, such as data that flows through VTAM buffers, data transmitted on NCP links, and VTAM internal trace information. For more information about the trace facility, see z/OS Communications Server: SNA Diagnosis Vol 1, Techniques and Procedures.

See z/OS Communications Server: SNA Operation for a list of the start options and descriptions of the operator commands that you can use to start VTAM trace facilities. The ASIRFMSG, ESIRFMSG, FSIRFMSG, and RSIRFMSG start options produce messages only when the SIRFMSG, DSIRFMSG, or LSIRFMSG start options are also in use. For descriptions of the start options, see the z/OS Communications Server: SNA Resource Definition Reference.