Fa Introduction

© 2008 IBM CorporationMarch 13, 2008

IBM Software Group

®

IBM Fault Analyzer for z/OS

Program Number 5655-S15

Mentor Workshop

01

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Welcome to the tutorial for IBM's fault analyzer for zOS, one of IBM's zSeries problem determination tools.

Fault Analyzer Tutorial© 2008 IBM CorporationMarch 13, 2008 zSeries PD Tools

IBM trademarks

AD/CycleBookManagerCICSC/370CICSCOBOL/370 DB2DFSORTeServerIBMIMSIMS/ESALanguage EnvironmentMVSMVS/ESA

RACFRedbooksS/390System/390VisualAgeVS COBOL IIVTAMWebSpherez/OSzSeries

The following terms are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation in the United States, other countries, or both:

IBM Software Group

Presenter

Presentation Notes

IBM trademarks


Fault Analyzer training: sections

Introduction Fault Analyzer files, setup, and optionsReal-time fault analysis reportUsing the online interfaceFault reanalysis

Interactive reanalysis tourInteractive reanalysis example Batch reanalysis

CICS, DB2, & IMS supportSaving and using program source informationUsing optionsHints & tips

Presenter

Presentation Notes

You can use this course to learn how Fault analyzer will help you research program abnormal terminations. By taking the tutorial you will understand the features of fault analyzer and how you can use it to understand why a program running on a zOS system has abnormally terminated. Take a look at how the course is structured. It is broken down into sections. If you have not already used Fault Analyzer, it is best to take each section in order. If you have already been using it, and want to learn more about a particular topic, you may want to go directly to that section. This section is an introduction to fault analyzer. The next section describes how Fault analyzer may be set up on your system. Take that section to understand the different features that are available when fault analyzer is installed. The "real time fault analysis report” section describes the analysis report that is produced automatically when a program abends. Then take the "Using the on-line interface" section to understand the TSO and CICS interfaces to fault analyzer. A feature called reanalysis is typically the best way to research an abend. There are several sections that discuss reanalysis. First, a tour of reanalysis, then a section that shows an example of an interactive reanalysis including a root-cause analysis of an abend. And there is also a section that describes the batch reanalysis utility. ��If you have CICS, DB2, or IMS applications, you will want to take the sections that describes the additional information that is reported for applications running in those environments. If you are not sure how to make the IBM compilers create and save source information files, you should take the section titled “Saving and using program source information”. It starts with an overview of the different ways IBM compilers can save source information for fault analyzer to use. If you are responsible for modifying your compile processes, then you should review this section in detail. The "Using options" section describes how you can use Fault analyzer options to automate certain functions, such as how to make fault analyzer automatically search your source information files to perform source mapping. Finally, the "Hints and tips” section gives you a few extra pointers and describes some helpful utilities. Now it is time to start with an introduction to IBM's fault analyzer for zOS.


What is Fault Analyzer ?

Fault Analyzer is a tool that helps you determine the cause of an application abend

so you can more quickly identify and resolve the problem

Delivers information about an application when it has abended, to help you assess:

What happened, and why?What program?What line of source code?What source variables were involved?

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Fault analyzer is software that helps you understand why a program has abnormally terminated or abended. It helps you to perform root cause analysis, so you can fix the problem. As you are doing your research, fault analyzer helps answer questions such as what happened, with program was running, what program statement ran that cause the abend, and what were the values of variables. And of course it will help you understand more in depth questions, such as "what were the programs on the call chain?", and "what files and databases were being used?".


Environments and languages supported

COBOL

PL/I

Assembler

C/C++

z/OS

OS/390

LE (Language Environment)

CICS

IMS

DB2

MQSeries

UNIX System Services

Source information can be mapped for these IBM compilers:

Fault Analyzer can capture abends in these environments:

Presenter

Presentation Notes

One of the most imnportant features of fault analyzer is that it can map program source information and show you source statements and variables. This is a big time saver for you since it eliminates the need to perform abend analysis the old-fashioned way, where you read a dump and calculate offsets into your program to find your variables and statements. Fault analyzer can perform this source mapping for programs compiled using the IBM COBOL, PLI, and C and C++ compilers, and the IBM assembler. It is accomplished by using a source information file created by a compiler such as a compiler listing or something called a Sysdebug file. Information is reported for programs running under the zOS or OS390 operating systems, in addition to detailed information about the environment where the application was running. Details are reported for language environment, CICS and IMS transaction managers, and Unix System Services. It reports DB2 and IMS data base, and MQ Series queue activity.


What features does Fault Analyzer have ?

Real-Time AnalysisDetailed information is captured automatically when an application abendsAn analysis report is generated

Online InterfaceView an analysis reportPerform a reanalysis

Interactive ReanalysisQuick point-and-shoot navigation of abend info Apply program source information

Batch ReanalysisRun a utility to generate a new analysis reportApply program source information

Easiest way to research an abend

Easiest way to research an abend

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Fault analyzer has several features. When a program abends, fault analyzer automatically captures abend information and generates an analysis report. That is called real time analysis. The on-line interface is available in both TSO and CICS. You can use the on-line interface to manage your abend information, view analysis reports, and to perform a function called reanalysis. ��Interactive reanalysis is the easiest way to research an abend. It provides point-and-shoot navigation of abend information, which makes it much easier and faster than just viewing a report. When you do a reanalysis, you also have the option of mapping program source information. ��Finally, a feature called batch reanalysis is a utility program that lets you produce a fresh copy of an analysis report. ��


Real-Time analysis … how it works

1. An application abends. The system intercepts the abend and calls a Fault Analyzer exit. The exit invokes FA.

z/OS

FaultAnalyzer

Application(batch or

online)

Options

FA Invocation Exit

Abend

Real-Time Analysis

2. FA reads options that control whether it will analyze the abend, how to process, and which Fault History file to use

Installation options are specified for the systemOptions can be overridden for a job step or online region

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Here is how it works. First an application abends. This could be, for example, a batch job or a CICS transaction. The system intercepts the abend, and invokes fault analyzer. Notice that fault analyzer does not get involved, meaning that it does not have any system overhead, if the program does not abend. After it is invoked, it reads options customized for your system to determine, among other things, whether it should process the abend. And, of course, for this example assume that it will.



4. FA gets source info for application programs

Source info can be a Sysdebug file, a side file, or a compiler listingMultiple data sets can be searched

z/OS

FA Invocation Exit

FaultAnalyzer

Application

Sysdebug files, Compiler Listings, or Side Files

Options

Real-Time Analysis

3. Fault Analyzer examines programs and the environment in the application address space

Application

Abend

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Next, fault analyzer examines the application address space and performs its’ data collection and analysis. Part of that analysis is the mapping of program source data. Fault Analyzer system options can be set up to locate source information files created your compiler, such as compiler listings or sysdebug files. It is important that the installers of Fault Analyzer set up these options correctly so that source mapping can be performed automatically. Source mapping will be described in more detail in later sections.


SYSOUT

AnalysisReport


5. A new Fault Entry is written to a Fault History File. The entry contains:

Info about the applicationThe Analysis ReportA “mini-dump” of the application (this enables reanalysis)

6. The Analysis Report is written to SYSOUT (batch jobs only)

z/OS

FaultAnalyzer

ApplicationFault History File

FaultEntry

Sysdebug files, Compiler Listings, or Side Files

Options

FA Invocation Exit

Abend

Real-Time Analysis

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Next, fault analyzer writes an entry into a fault history file. A fault history file is a file, a repository where all abend information is stored. The fault entry contains a full copy of the real time analysis report, and something called a mini dump. But do not let the word "mini" fool you, because an extensive amount of information is collected. Finally, but only for batch jobs, fault analyzer automatically writes a copy of the real time analysis report to sysout.


The online interface

The online interface is available in TSO and CICSUse online interface to:

Display a list of abendsView real-time reportsPerform reanalysisDelete fault entries

The CICS interface looks the same as the TSO interface, with minor restrictionsAny abend can be viewed from either interface

FaultAnalyzer

Fault History Files

FaultEntries

Compiler Listings

Sysdebug, Side Files

ISPF

FaultAnalyzer

TSO

CICSCICS

Presenter

Presentation Notes

You can use the on-line interface to view abend information. The same on-line interface is available in both TSO and CICS. ��Use the on-line interface to see a list of abends, view Real Time Reports, perform a reanalysis, or manage fault entries. You can view any abend from either interface. Do not think that you have to use the CICS interface to view a CICS abend. You can view any abend from either interface.


Available line commands are shown here

and entered here

The online interface

A list of abends in a fault history file

A list of abends in a fault history file

Batch and online abends may be in the same list

Batch and online abends may be in the same list

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Here is an example of the on-line interface. It looks the same in both TSO and CICS. Towards the top, you see the name of the fault history file that is displayed. Below that, it shows a list of all of the available line commands. You can use a line commands next to any of the abends that you see on the screen. For example, if you type an “I” next to an abend, it will do an interactive reanalysis. ��


The real-time analysis report

Synopsis and the suspected cause of a failure

abending programactive line of source codeactive variables

Explanation of error messages / codes

File and Database detail

Program details:Variables / storageCompile, link, load, and entry point information

System information:z/OS, CICS, DB2, IMS

Presenter

Presentation Notes

A real time report is produced automatically when an abend occurs. The first section of a real time report is the synopsis, which contains the most critical information, such as the name of the program that abended and, if available, the program statement that abended and the values of variables referenced. Sometimes the synopsis is all you need, if you are familiar with an application. But often you need more information, and the rest of the report contains details about the application and the environment, such as an explanation of the abend code and messages, details about files and databases, such as a copy of the current record of a file, the values of program variables, and system and subsystem information. For example, a picture of what a CICS user saw on their screen just before the abend.


View a real-time analysis report

To View an Analysis Report:

Use the Fault Analyzer TSO online interface

- OR -

Use the Fault Analyzer CICS online interface

- OR -

Use a Web Browser- OR -

View or print your batch job's SYSOUT

Default is SYSOUT=*DD name is IDIREPRT

FaultAnalyzer

ISPF

Fault HistoryFile

FaultEntry

SYSOUT

AnalysisReport

Printed output

For batch abends

For any abend

SDSF

z/OS HTTPServer

Browser

FaultAnalyzer

CICS

TSO

CICS

Presenter

Presentation Notes

There are many ways to view a real time report. Remember that a copy of the report is written to the fault entry in the fault history file, and it can be viewed from there. Most people use the TSO or CICS on-line interface. There is also a Web browser interface to fault analyzer, which can be implemented to allow people without access to either TSO or CICS to view real-time reports. For batch jobs, a copy of the real time report is written to sysout, and you can view it directly from there.


Interactive reanalysis

SynopsisAny program in the call chainProgram variables and their valuesFile and database detailCICS, DB2, and IMS infoProgram source listingStorage areas

The easiest way to research an abendA function of the online interfaceQuickly navigate to:

Point and Shoot navigation

Point and Shoot navigation

Presenter

Presentation Notes

The real time report provides detailed information about your abend. However, there is an easier way to research a problem: interactive reanalysis. This is feature of fault analyzer's on-line interface, so you can do a reanalysis from either TSO or CICS. You can see all the same information that is available in the real time report, and even a little more. Your research is much easier because of point and shoot navigation, which lets you very quickly get to the information that you are looking for. Point and shoot navigation works by putting your cursor on any of the yellow highlighted fields, and hitting enter.


Interactive reanalysis

Online panels to research abend information

You can apply source information, even if source info was not available when the program abended

A source info file can becreated after the abend

You do NOT have to reproduce the abend

FaultAnalyzer

Online Interface

Fault History File

FaultEntry

Sysdebug Files, Side Files, or Compiler Listings

Options

CompilerProgram Source

Optional

Onlineinterface

Presenter

Presentation Notes

When you do an interactive reanalysis, you can enable source mapping by pointing to a source information file. This capability of interactive reanalysis is very important, because if a source information file was not available when an abend occurred, you can point to the right file when you do your interactive reanalysis. That means that you can apply source information to your abend after the fact, without having to re-create the abend. Even if you do not have a source information file, sometimes you can use this trick... recompile your program after the abend, to create, for example a new compiler listing. Then you can use this new listing when you perform your interactive reanalysis. It is a great way to expedite your research, but just make sure to use the exact same source code and compiler when you recompile.


Batch reanalysis

A batch utility to generate a new analysis report

Apply source information, even if the source info was not available during Real-Time analysis

Fault Analyzer generates JCL

JCL can be edited, submitted, and saved

Fault History File

FaultEntry

ISPF

CompilerProgram Source

Optional

Use the online interface to generate and submit JCL for a batch reanalysis job

Use the online interface to generate and submit JCL for a batch reanalysis job

Fault Analyzer Batch

Reanalysis JobAnalysisReport

(SYSOUT)

Sysdebug Files, Side Files, or Compiler Listings

Onlineinterface

Presenter

Presentation Notes

The last feature that will be covered in this introduction is batch reanalysis. This is not used as often as interactive reanalysis, but a lot of people find it very helpful. It is simply a batch utility program that you can run to get a fresh copy of a fault analysis report. You might use it if source information was not available when the abend occurred, and the original real time report was produced. You just specify the names of your source information files in your options, and it will produce a new report with source mapping. Probably the easiest way use it is to make it automatically generate JCL from the TSO on-line interface. JCL is automatically generated, and you just submit the JCL to run the utility.


http://www.ibm.com/software/awdtools/deployment/

IBM PD Tools (including Fault Analyzer) information is on the Web

Select Fault Analyzer from the list.

Select Fault Analyzer from the list.

Presenter

Presentation Notes

You can get more information about fault analyzer, and all of the IBM PD tools, on the Web. Direct your browser to this URL: www.ibm.com/software/awdtools/deployment . To get to the fault analyzer page, select fault analyzer from the “Select a product” pull-down.


You can get Fault Analyzer manuals from the IBM Web site

http://www.ibm.com/software/awdtools/faultanalyzer/

Select Library from the menu.

Select Library from the menu.

Presenter

Presentation Notes

You can view or download fault analyzer manuals from the Web site. From the fault analyzer page, there is a link to the fault analyzer library. Just click on the word library on the left side of the screen to get there.


http://www.ibm.com/software/awdtools/faultanalyzer/library/


Click to viewClick to viewRight-click to downloadRight-click to download

Presenter

Presentation Notes

From the library page, you can view a manual by clicking a link either in the PDF or book manager column, or you can download a manual by right clicking the link in the PDF column.



Presenter

Presentation Notes

That is the end of this section, an introduction to fault analyzer.


Feedback

Your feedback is valuableYou can help improve the quality of IBM Education Assistant content to

better meet your needs by providing feedback.

Did you find this module useful?

Did it help you solve a problem or answer a question?

Do you have suggestions for improvements?

Click to send e-mail feedback:mailto:[email protected]?subject=Feedback_about_FA01Introduction.ppt

This module is also available in PDF format at: ../FA01Introduction.pdf

Presenter

Presentation Notes

You can help improve the quality of IBM Education Assistant content by providing feedback.

mailto:[email protected]?subject=Feedback_about_FA01Introduction.ppt

© 2008 IBM CorporationMarch 13, 2008

IBM Software Group

®

IBM Fault Analyzer for z/OS

Program Number 5655-S15

Mentor Workshop

01

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Welcome to the tutorial for IBM's fault analyzer for zOS, one of IBM's zSeries problem determination tools.

Fa Introduction

Documents

zseries pd tools

fault analyzer manuals

fault analyzer tutorial

fault history file

ibm software group

ibm web sitehttp

ibm fault analyzer

fault analyzer