Writing Traces

This topic describes how to write traces.

You must pre-allocate trace data sets before issuing the trace commands for data traces and OSA traces. Trace data sets may be pre-allocated for packet traces, but can also be dynamically allocated using the packet trace name patterns on the MVIPCNFD view (see Patterns for allocating packet trace files). For the necessary file attributes on pre-allocating data sets, see Data set allocation. 

Writing Traces to a formatted file

Use this procedure to write MainView for IP traces to a sequential data set. The WRITE command allows you to write the formatted trace to a data set.

To write a formatted trace to a data set

1. From the EZIP menu select the type of trace you want from the Diagnostics section, and press Enter.
2. In the Command field of the tracing view, type W or WRITE and press Enter. You can select from the following types of traces:
   
   
   • PKTTRACE: Packet Tracing
   • DATTRACE: Data Tracing
   • OSATRACE: OSA Tracing
   • SKTTRACE: Socket Tracing

3. Type the name of the data set in the File Name field, and any other types of filters that you want, and press Enter.

   Before completing the procedure, you can limit the parameters of the write packet trace by typing an entry in one (or more) of the following fields:

   • Start Date
   • Start Time
   • Stop Date
   • Stop Time
   • Protocol
   • IP Address

   • Port Number

     
     

4. Press F3 to complete the task.

Writing traces to a IBM component (CTRACE) file

Use the following procedure to write a MainView for IP trace in a RAW IBM component trace format to a pre-allocated data set. The Packet, Data, and OSA traces can be written in the IBM CTRACE format.

To write a MainView for IP RAW trace to a CTRACE file

1. From the EZIP menu select the type of trace you want from the Diagnostics section, and press Enter. 
2. In the Command field of the tracing view, type RAW and press Enter. You can select from the following types of traces:
   
   
   • PKTTRACE: Packet Tracing
   • DATTRACE: Data Tracing
   • OSATRACE: OSA Tracing

3. Type the name of the data set in the File Name field, and any other types of filters that you want, and press Enter.

   Before completing the procedure, you can limit the parameters of the write packet trace by typing an entry in one or more of the following fields:

   • Start Date
   • Start Time
   • Stop Date 
   • Stop Time
   • Protocol
   • IP Address

   • Port Number

     
     

4. Press F3 or type END to complete the task.

Writing Packet Trace to a SNIFFER file

Use the following procedure to write a packet trace in Network Associates Sniffer format to a data set. The file can then be used as input to Wireshark network packet analyzer.

To write a packet trace in Sniffer format to a data set

1. From the EZIP menu select Packet Tracing from the Diagnostics section, and press Enter.
2. In the Command field of the packet tracing view (PKTTRACE), type SNIFF, and press Enter.

3. Type the name of the data set in the File Name field, and any other types of filters that you want, and press Enter.

   Before pressing F3, you can limit the parameters of the packet trace by typing an entry in one or more of the following fields:

   • Start Date
   • Start Time
   • Stop Date
   • Stop Time
   • Protocol
   • IP Address
   • Port Number

   • Data Length

     
     

4. Press F3 or type END to complete the task.