Working with Dumps
This topic describes the following Abend-AID screens that enable you to select and analyze Abend-AID Viewer entries and to display basic information about them:
- Fault Summary
- Abend-AID Directory
- Entry Information (for batch or SVC dump entries)
- Duplicate History Log
- Contact Information.
Fault Summary
The Fault Summary is the first screen displayed when you access the Abend-AID Viewer from VTAM or ISPF. You can also use the AADFS transaction command to display the Fault Summary from CICS. To bypass the Fault Summary as the first screen, set the Automatically reselect last dump viewed user profile option to Y, as described in User Profile screen.
The Fault Summary summarizes the type and number of batch and SVC dump entries available for each batch or SVC dump region or region group to which you have assigned a name. IMS entries are also listed.
Region groups are created during Abend-AID customization as part of the Summary Configuration function. This function allows you to group regions together by name so that the Fault Summary reflects total counts for all regions in the group. If you choose not to create region groups, individual job names are used as region descriptions on the Fault Summary. See Abend-AID Advanced Configuration space for information about configuring regions.
As shown in Fault Summary, the Fault Summary lists entries by the region or region group to which they belong. The list is in alphabetical order. If your site defined them, region groups are alphabetized at the top of the list, followed by an alphabetized list of regions. To select an entire region or region group, place the cursor on the appropriate Region Descriptions name and press Enter. To select either a single entry type or all entries from a region or region group, place the cursor on the appropriate numeric value and press Enter. Abend-AID displays a directory tailored to your selection.
You can use the column mask to tailor the contents of the scrollable data area. The mask acts as a filter and only the list entries that match each column mask value are displayed in the scrollable data area. The asterisk (*) character is the wildcard character. To reset the column mask to all wildcard characters for an individual column, clear the column mask using the space bar or the Erase EOF key. To reset the column mask for all columns, enter the RESET primary command.
If your installer sets the EXTERNAL_SECURITY_ENABLED=YES and the EXTERNAL_SECURITY_DATASET_CHECK=(BATCH,REGION) server parameters during installation, you can view and select only entries from those data sets (batch databases and SVC dumps) for which you have READ authority granted from an external security product such as RACF or ACF2. If your access to the Abend-AID Directory is restricted using these parameters, entries from migrated report dump databases will not be included in the Abend-AID directory display.
If you use the cursor point-and-shoot feature and press Enter at the DBLIST field on the Fault Summary or the Abend-AID Directory, the list of databases that is displayed will include the migrated data sets. You can recall migrated data sets using your site’s procedure for recalling data sets.
If you use the cursor point-and-shoot feature and press Enter at the View field on the Fault Summary, the Fault Summary View Selection menu is displayed, as shown in Figure. From this menu you can select which types of reports/dumps you want to be displayed on the Fault Summary.
New with Release 11.2, your selection of a report/dump, region, or region group type is saved when you exit the Fault Summary and is redisplayed at your next access to this screen.
To display the standard BMC copyright/trade secrets notice, press Enter at the COPYRIGHT field.
Fault Summary
COMMAND ===> SCROLL ===> CSR
==>
Shared Directory/Database... AA.DEVL.SERVER01.SHDRRPT
For a list of databases, select DBLIST
To view the Fault Summary for a specific type, select View
Job Name or CICS MVS IMS/TM Db2 CICS Other
Application Description Trans Batch Trans Reports SVC SVC
*********************** ****** ******* ******* ******* ******* *******
TOTAL ENTRIES 175 77 4 1 13 27
$DEMOPGM 0 1 0 0 0 0
$DEMXPGM 0 2 0 0 0 0
$71ABTST 0 1 0 0 0 0
$71ABTS1 0 1 0 0 0 0
$71XXXXX 0 1 0 0 0 0
$75AL050 0 1 0 0 0 0
$75A3263 0 2 0 0 0 0
$75A6463 0 3 0 0 0 0
$75PLSA3 0 1 0 0 0 0
$75TLSA3 0 1 0 0 0 0
$75TLSA3 0 1 0 1 0 0
Online Technical Support available at: https://support.bmc.com
To display Copyright/Trade Secret notice select COPYRIGHT
Fault Summary View Selection Menu
COMMAND ===>
A ALL All
T TRAN CICS Transactions
B BATCH MVS Batch
I IMS IMS/TM Transaction
D DB2 Db2 Reports
C BAT/IMS Batch and IMS
CB CICS/BAT CICS and Batch
S SVCDUMP CICS Region/SVC
To display the Fault Summary from any Abend-AID screen, enter SUMMARY as a fast-path command. The Fault Summary is also available as a selection on the Report Menu.
Abend-AID Directory
When you select TOTAL ENTRIES from the Fault Summary, Abend-AID automatically displays the Abend-AID Directory with all its entries. As shown in Scrollable Screens (Left to Right) Comprising the Abend-AID Directory, the Abend-AID Directory provides information about the batch, IMS/TM, or SVC dump entries. This information is presented on a maximum of four left/right scrollable screens, depending on the width of the terminal.
New with Release 11.1, if you want to limit the Abend-AID Directory display to batch, IMS/TM, or SVC dump entries only, select a specific entry type subset of a region or region group for that entry type from the Fault Summary and the directory automatically displays only entries of the type you selected, adjusts the columns order, and shows only valid line commands for the entry type Abend-AID Directory (for batch entries only) shows the directory for batch entries only.
To display the Abend-AID Directory from any other Abend-AID screen, enter DIRECTRY as a fast-path command. Entering the command without any parameter displays the directory entries based on your last selection for the current session made on the Fault Summary. To display all the entries on the Abend-AID Directory, enter DIRECTRY ALL as a fast-path command.
Automatically Restoring Mask and Sort Values
By default, Abend-AID does not automatically restore the mask and sort criteria from your last session on the Abend-AID Directory. To enable this functionality, use the User Profile screen, as described in User Profile screen.
Scrollable Screens (Left to Right) Comprising the Abend-AID Directory
COMMAND ===> SCROLL ===> CSR
==>
Shared Directory/Database... AA.DEVL.SERVER01.SHDRRPT
For a list of databases, select DBLIST
M Menu L Lock H Dup History R Recall T Terminate Analysis
S Diag U Unlock I Information E Migrate C Change Priority
D Delete G Messages A Analyze P Print N Contact Information
X Export
Abend
Entry Job Name Code JESID Tran Program Offset Dups Time Date
******* ******** ******** ******** **** ******** ******** **** ******** ****
Type a line command and press Enter to process it
COMMAND ===> SCROLL ===> CSR
<== ==>
Shared Directory/Database... AA.DEVL.SERVER01.SHDRRPT
For a list of databases, select DBLIST
M Menu L Lock H Dup History R Recall T Terminate Analysis
S Diag U Unlock I Information E Migrate C Change Priority
D Delete G Messages A Analyze P Print N Contact Information
X Export
Abend LE
Entry Job Name Code Date Release/Type Status Term Userid Cond
******* ******** ******** ********* ************ ********* **** ******** ****
Type a line command and press Enter to process it
COMMAND ===> SCROLL ===> CSR
<== ==>
Shared Directory/Database... AA.DEVL.SERVER01.SHDRRPT
For a list of databases, select DBLIST
M Menu L Lock H Dup History R Recall T Terminate Analysis
S Diag U Unlock I Information E Migrate C Change Priority
D Delete G Messages A Analyze P Print N Contact Information
X Export
Abend LE
Entry Job Name Code Condition Dataset Name
******* ******** ******** ******** **************************************
Type a line command and press Enter to process it
COMMAND ===> SCROLL ===> CSR
<== ==>
Shared Directory/Database... AA.DEVL.SERVER01.SHDRRPT
For a list of databases, select DBLIST
M Menu L Lock H Dup History R Recall T Terminate Analysis
S Diag U Unlock I Information E Migrate C Change Priority
D Delete G Messages A Analyze P Print N Contact Information
X Export
Abend
Entry Job Name Code Description Comments
******* ******** ******** ******************** ***************************
Type a line command and press Enter to process it
COMMAND ===> SCROLL ===> CSR
<== ==>
Shared Directory/Database... AA.DEVL.SERVER01.SHDRRPT
For a list of databases, select DBLIST
M Menu L Lock H Dup History R Recall T Terminate Analysis
S Diag U Unlock I Information E Migrate C Change Priority
D Delete G Messages A Analyze P Print N Contact Information
X Export
Abend
Entry Job Name Code Comments SYSID
******* ******** ******** ******************************************** *****
Type a line command and press Enter to process it
COMMAND ===> SCROLL ===> CSR
<==
Shared Directory/Database... AA.DEVL.SERVER01.SHDRRPT
For a list of databases, select DBLIST
M Menu L Lock H Dup History R Recall T Terminate Analysis
S Diag U Unlock I Information E Migrate C Change Priority
D Delete G Messages A Analyze P Print N Contact Information
X Export
Abend Latest Latest Load
Entry Job Name Code Comments SYSID Time Date Module
******* ******** ******** ************** ***** ******** ********* ********
Type a line command and press Enter to process it
Abend-AIDDirectory (for batch entries only)
COMMAND ===> SCROLL ===> CSR
==>
Shared Directory/Database... AA.DEVL.SERVER01.SHDRRPT
For a list of databases, select DBLIST
M Menu L Lock H Dup History D Delete N Contact Information
S Diag U Unlock I Information P Print
X Export
Abend
Entry Job Name Code JESID Program Offset Time Date Dups
******* ******** ******** ******** ******** ******** ******** ********* ****
0001110 $75XLSA2 S0CB J0871872 CWAADATE 00000042 02:43:41 14FEB2023 0
0001109 $75XLSA2 S0CB J0871636 CWAADATE 00000042 02:06:19 14FEB2023 0
0001001 $75XLSA2 S0CB J0757465 CWAADATE 00000042 01:10:54 19JAN2023 0
0001000 $75XLSA2 S0CB J0757425 CWAADATE 00000042 00:57:40 19JAN2023 0
0000974 CALLUSJ1 S0C9 J0667646 CALLUSC2 000009D2 07:30:33 27DEC2022 0
0000973 CALLUSJ1 S0C9 J0667633 CALLUSC3 0000019E 07:26:18 27DEC2022 0
0000972 CALLUSJ1 S0C9 J0667629 CALLUSC3 0000019E 07:24:38 27DEC2022 0
0000971 CALLUSJ1 S0C9 J0667615 CALLUSC3 00000352 07:22:10 27DEC2022 0
0000970 CALLUSJ1 S0C9 J0667612 CALLUSC3 0000019E 07:19:33 27DEC2022 0
0000969 CALLUSJ1 S0C9 J0667461 CALLUSC2 000005E6 06:39:49 27DEC2022 0
Type a line command and press Enter to process it
Information listed on the Abend-AID Directory includes the following:
- Abend-AID entry number
- Job name
- Abend code
- JES job ID
- Time and date of dump occurrence
- Type of dump, such as BATCH, SVC, etc.
- Processing status, such as RUNNING or COMPLETE
- For batch entries, the user ID associated with the abended program, or the user ID of the last person to view the SVC dump
- Dump data set name or report database
- User comments or symptom string (default for region dumps). Information in this field may be overtyped.
- System ID. For a batch entry, this is the system ID (SYSID) of the abending job. For an SVC dump entry, this is the system ID of the job for which the dump (SVC, console, SLIP, etc.) was issued.
- Latest time and date of duplicate dump. If no duplicate occurred, the actual time and date of the dump.
- Load module name. This field is not valid for SVC dumps.
The Abend-AID Directory also includes the following information specific to batch entries only:
- Name of the controlling program that abended
- Name of the active program associated with the abend
- Abending instruction offset
- Number of duplicate dump suppressions
- LE condition code associated with the entry.
Types of Directory Entries
Listed on the Abend-AID Directory are batch, IMS/TM, and SVC dump entries and information-only entries (region dumps only). These entry types affect the information that the directory displays and the functions of its line commands. To determine an entry’s type, check its Release/Type field. An INFO dump type indicates an information-only region entry. All other values in the Release/Type field indicate a specific dump type, for example, SVC or SLIP.
An information-only entry appears on the Abend-AID Directory when the listed dump is not available to the server. Several conditions can be the cause. For example, the dump copy may have failed or the data set is not cataloged. A dump signature mismatch can also be the cause. A mismatch occurs when the data set containing the dump is overwritten from outside Abend-AID with new data. Information-only SVC dump entries are automatically deleted from the Abend-AID Directory after 35 days.
Deleting an SVC dump data set from outside Abend-AID will also generate an information-only entry. At initialization, the server checks whether each region dump data set in the Abend-AID Directory is available on DASD. If it finds a data set has been deleted, it changes the dump status for all address spaces in that data set to INFO, and it deletes all Abend-AID information about them except the directory entry. Abend-AID also writes an error message to the System Messages field on the Entry Information screen. For information about this screen, see SVC Dump Entry Information Screen.
Line Commands
With the Abend-AID Directory’s line commands, you can select individual entries for viewing or for performing maintenance functions against. The specific tasks performed by the line commands are as follows:
M | Selects the entry and displays the Report Menu. A system message on the menu displays the dump’s entry number and job name and indicates that the dump has been successfully selected. Once a dump is selected, identifying information about the dump is displayed on the last line of the screen. If you use the BORDERS command to suppress the bottom border, however, this information does not appear. For more information about the BORDERS command, see BORDERS. The next time you display the Abend-AID Directory, it highlights the currently selected entry. Notes:
|
S | Selects the entry and displays the entry’s Diagnostic Summary, which is the logical starting point for debugging the majority of CICS dumps. For this line command to function, the entry must have a COMPLETE status in its Status field. |
D | Deletes the entry. The D line command functions as follows:
|
You can disable the delete confirmation window for either a batch or SVC region dump by changing your user profile. If you specify in your user profile not to display the delete confirmation window, Abend-AID uses the SDUMP data set disposition as specified on the User Profile screen. See User Profile Screen for additional information.
L | Locks a batch entry, protecting it from automatic deletion. |
U | Unlocks a locked batch entry, freeing it for automatic deletion. |
G | Valid for SVC dumps only. Displays the Dump Analysis Message Log, which lists in chronological order the Abend-AID programs that were executed to analyze the dump. The Dump Analysis Message log displays any errors processing the dump, as well as any exception conditions found within the dump. To display a selected entry’s message log from any Abend-AID screen, enter MLOG as a fast-path command. For MLOG to function, however, you must first select a region entry from the Abend-AID Directory. |
H | Displays the Duplicate History Log for a batch entry. The Duplicate History Log is a record of the duplicate dump suppression activity for the entry. For more information about the Duplicate History Log, see Duplicate History Log. |
I | Displays the Entry Information screen. The Entry Information screen lists the entry’s type, address space identifier (ASID), status, date and time processed, data set name, title, symptom string, date and time imported, and system messages. For more information about this screen, see Batch Entry Information Screen and SVC Dump Entry Information Screen. Another method for displaying the Entry Information screen for the current entry is to use the INFO command. From any Abend-AID screen, enter INFO as a fast-path command. |
A | Schedules dump analysis on the SVC entry. The current status of dump analysis is indicated in the entry’s Status field. |
R | Recalls an SVC dump data set that was migrated to archival storage via DFHSM or an equivalent product that uses the interface provided by the DFHSM ARCGIVER program. Once a dump is recalled, the status indicates SELECT, which means that only limited functionality is available. The dump must be analyzed again for full functionality. Use the A line command to analyze the dump again. |
E | Migrates an SVC dump data set to archival storage via DFHSM or an equivalent product that uses the interface provided by the DFHSM ARCGIVER program, and deletes the dump analysis records from the dump information file. |
P | Prints the associated report for the selected entry to a temporary data set. This data set is printed in its entirety when you issue the GO primary command on the Print Options and Initiation screen or when you exit the Abend-AID Viewer. For a batch entry, this command prints a complete report, including storage captured by Abend-AID. For SVC dumps, it prints a summary report. See Print Options and Initiation Screen and Printing Abend-AID-Supplied Reports for additional information. |
T | Terminates the dump analysis that Abend-AID is running or is scheduled to run on the SVC dump entry. For this line command to function, the entry must have a RUNNING, NEXT, SCHEDULED, or IMPORT status in its Status field. |
C | Changes the priority of the SVC dump entry to reschedule it as the next dump to have dump analysis. If dump analysis is already running against another dump, Abend-AID completes that processing before analyzing this entry. |
N | Displays the Contact Information screen for batch entries that match criteria specified in the action definitions created during installation customization. This screen lists basic identifying information about the dump and about the person and an alternate, backup person that you can contact regarding the dump. For more information about this screen, see Contact Information Screen. |
X | Helps you to export the Abend-AID report to a Dataset directly from your viewer. You might have to mention/alter site specific Jobcard, SLCXLOAD and Output Dataset Name before executing this Line command. For more information about this screen, see Report Export Options . |
Batch Entry Information Screen
The batch Entry Information screen, shown in Batch Entry Information Screen, provides the following information about a dump:
- Entry number and type
- Abend code or reason for the dump
- Status
- Job name and user ID and task number
- data set name
- Date and time the entry was created and analyzed
- Number of users who have currently selected the entry
- Program name, JES ID, Offset, SMF SYSID, and LE condition ID
- User comments
- Access to the Header and Epilog information.
To display batch entry Information from any Abend-AID screen, enter INFO as a fast-path command. The Entry Information screen is also available through the I (Information) line command on the Abend-AID Directory.
If a number other than zero displays in the Nbr User field, tab to the field and press Enter to display the Entry Users screen, which list of user IDs of those who have currently selected the entry, as shown in Entry Users Screen.
Batch Entry Information Screen
COMMAND ===>
Entry Number....... 0001825 Entry Type. BATCH Entry Date... 22AUG2024
Code............... U4038 Status..... COMPLETE Entry Time... 10:53:12
Job Name........... AA101001 User ID.... PINAXM0 Nbr Users.... 001
Dups............... 0 Latest Date 22AUG2024 Latest Time.. 11:31:02
Program............ FLJSON01 JESID...... J0064968 Load Module.. MODULE1
Offset............. 0000000C SMF Sysid.. CW01
LE Condition ID.... IBM0451S
Programmer Info.... TCV
Dataset Name....... AA.R172.PHASE4.RPT.DB09
Comments...........
HEADER - System and Job information
EPILOG - Abend-AID termination information
SVC Dump Entry Information Screen
The following SVC dump Entry Information screen provides the following information about a dump:
- Entry number and dump type
- Abend code or reason for the dump
- Address space identifier (ASID) of the region from which the dump was taken
- Original and current dump data set names
- Date and time the dump was created, imported, and analyzed
- Number of users who have currently selected the entry
- IX_address_space_identifier •User comments and system messages.
SVC Dump Entry Information Screen
COMMAND ===>
Entry Number.... 0076560 Dump Type.. SVC Date Processed. 18SEP2024
Code............ S0C4 ASID....... 0149 Time Processed. 03:15:23
CICS Release.... N/A Home ASID.. 0149 Last Viewed by. TSOUSER
Job Name........ TSOUSER Status..... COMPLETE Nbr Users...... 001
Current Dump DSN.. SYS2.SVCDUMP.DUMP00.G00924
Volume Serial..... CUST01
Original Dump DSN. SYS2.SVCDUMP.DUMP00.G00924
Dump Title........ BMC SERVER DUMP : SERVER-SERVER1 CODE=S0C4
Symptom String.... S0C4
Dump Date......... 12SEP2024 Import Date......... 18SEP2024
Dump Time......... 15:23:50 Import Time......... 03:15:10
Addr Spaces in DS. 2 Date Added to IPCS.. NEVER ADDED
CPU Serial Number. 120270 Time Added to IPCS.. NEVER ADDED
Comment........... S0C4
System Messages...
To display SVC dump entry information from any Abend-AID Viewer screen, enter INFO as a fast-path command. The Region Entry Information screen is also available through the I (Information) line command on the Abend-AID Directory.
If a number other than zero displays in the Nbr Users field, tab to the field and press Enter to display the Entry Users screen, which list of user IDs of those who have currently selected the entry, as shown in Entry Users Screen.
Entry Users Screen
The Entry Users screen displays the list of user IDs of those who have currently selected the batch or SVC dump region entry. Further, this screen identifies the entry number and whether it is a batch or SVC dump region entry.
Entry Users Screen
Duplicate History Log
The Duplicate History Log provides a record of duplicate batch dump suppression activity. If duplicate suppression is enabled, for each dump, the Abend-AID Viewer checks for an existing entry with the same failing program name, error offset with the program, error code, and LE condition. Your site’s Abend-AID installer can also include job name and system ID as criteria by setting the appropriate Abend-AID global options. If the Abend-AID Viewer finds a match, and dump suppression for the condition has been turned on, the Abend-AID Viewer suppresses the dump and updates the Duplicate History Log with an additional log entry.
Duplicate dump suppression is turned off by default. Your site’s installer can turn on/off duplicate dump suppression using the Abend-AID global options. See Abend-AID Advanced Configuration space for more information.
The Duplicate History Log tracks the frequency of a particular program failure without having to store redundant entry information. This savings is especially useful in a production environment where repetitive failures can fill a report database with unwanted duplicate information.
As shown in the following figure, the Duplicate History Log describes the original abend first, followed by a scrollable list of log entries. The log displays these entries, which consist of date, time, job name, system ID, and user ID information, in chronological order. The 100 most recent entries are saved in the log. If the number of duplicates exceeds 100, the oldest entries are rolled off to make room for new entries. When this occurs, a message is displayed indicating that more duplicates were suppressed than are currently displayed.
Duplicate History Log for an Expired Dump
To display the Duplicate History Log from any Abend-AID screen, enter HISTORY as a fast-path command. This method requires you to have selected a batch entry from the Abend-AID Directory. You may also execute the H line command against any batch entry in the directory to display the Duplicate History Log.
Duplicate Dump Expiration Interval
The following figure indicates that this dump is a duplicate of an expired dump. Your site’s installer sets the dump expiration interval during the installation process using the Abend-AID global options. Once a dump has expired, the next duplicate abend causes a single new dump to be taken. History information for subsequent duplicates is reported with this new dump.
Duplicate History Log for an Expired Dump
Duplicate Dump Suppression and SVC Dumps
The Abend-AID Viewer does not provide a facility to suppress duplicate SVC dumps. Instead, we recommend that you use either the CICS System Dump Table or the MVS Dump Analysis and Elimination (DAE) facility to suppress or eliminate duplicate CICS region dumps.
Contact Information Screen
If the selected entry matches all the criteria in an action definition created during Abend-AID installation customization, then the Contact Information screen, shown in Contact Information Screen, provides the following information about the dump:
- Job name
- Application ID
- MVS System ID
- Abend date and time
- Information about the person to contact regarding the dump, such as name, phone number, e-mail address, title, department, and location.
- Same types of information about a secondary, alternate person.
Contact Information Screen
To display the Contact Information screen, enter the N line command next to the associated entry on the Abend-AID Directory.