Director Agent 6.2.1 on AIX Might Fill Up / Filesystem

Technote

Description

The /var/opt/tivoli/ep/runtime/nonstop/bin/cas_src.sh script writes a file "/dev/null 2>&1" which might fill up the / filesystem.

This happens with agents that have the following cas.agent fileset version:

cas.agent 1.4.2.32

Work-around and fix notes are detailed below.

Fix

An iFix for VIOS 2.2.1.0 - 2.2.1.3 is available from FixCentral: VIOS_ 2.2.1.0_IC85310.120719

http://www-933.ibm.com/support/fixcentral/vios/selectFixes?parent=Virtualization+software&product=ibm/vios/5765G34&release=2.2.1.3&platform=All&function=all

The same iFix can be used for AIX, on systems with cas.agent 1.4.2.32 installed. Fix Central has for AIX only SPs and no iFixes; therefore, it is not available for AIX on FixCentral. There is a separate site for AIX iFixes, where this will be available in the future.

These iFixes need to be uninstalled manually before installing a newer agent version that includes the fix.

1.4.2.46 cas_src.sh script
1.4.2.46 cas_src.sh script
The attached script is shipped with cas.agent 1.4.2.46cas_src.sh

To utilize this script, you should do the following:

stopsrc -s cas_agent	# Stop cas_agent subsystem
lssrc -s cas_agent	# Wait until this command returns "inoperative"
cd /var/opt/tivoli/ep/runtime/nonstop/bin	# cd to the directory where the cas_src.sh script is located
cp -p cas_src.sh cas_src.sh.org	# Save original script
cp <new cas_src.sh script>	# Copy the new script
startsrc -s cas_agent	# Start cas_agent subsystem

Note: The Common Agent refresh for IBM Systems Director 6.3 does not see this issue. It is recommended to upgrade the server and agents to 6.3.x where possible. See the following note for the 6.3_b refresh: https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/wikis/display/WikiPtype/IBM+Systems+Director+6.3+Common+Agent+_b+refresh+for+AIX

Work-around

1.	Stop the cas_agent subsystem by issuing the stopsrc -s cas_agent command.
2.	Wait until the subsystem is inoperative by issuing the lssrc -s cas_agent command.
3.	Save /var/opt/tivoli/ep/runtime/nonstop/bin/cas_src.sh: cp /var/opt/tivoli/ep/runtime/nonstop/bin/cas_src.sh /var/opt/tivoli/ep/runtime/nonstop/bin/cas_src.sh.org
4.	Edit /var/opt/tivoli/ep/runtime/nonstop/bin/cas_src.sh by doing the following: Replace the following code snippet: do /usr/bin/echo "cas_src pid:$$"  >> $CAS_SRC_LOG     /usr/bin/echo "heartbeat: `/usr/bin/date` " >> $CAS_SRC_LOG     /usr/bin/sleep 10     /usr/bin/ps -ef | grep nonstop_aix >> $CAS_SRC_LOG     # if nonstop_aix is not found then exit     [ "$?" -ne 0 ] && break done with the following code: do /usr/bin/sleep 10 NONSTOP_PID1=`/usr/bin/ps -ef|/usr/bin/grep '\/var\/opt\/tivoli\/ep'|/usr/bin/grep nonstop_aix|/usr/bin/grep -v grep|/usr/bin/awk '{print $2}'` NONSTOP_PID2=`/usr/bin/ps -ef|/usr/bin/grep '\/opt\/ibm\/director\/agent'|/usr/bin/grep nonstop_aix|/usr/bin/grep -v grep|/usr/bin/awk '{print $2}'` # if nonstop_aix is not found then exit if [[ "$NONSTOP_PID1" == "" && "$NONSTOP_PID2" == "" ]]; then break fi done
5.	Start the cas_agent subsystem by issuing the startsrc -s cas_agent command.

Details

The /var/opt/tivoli/ep/runtime/nonstop/bin/cas_src.sh script is started as part of the cas_agent SRC subsystem ( startsrc -s cas_agent ), and it is stopped with stopsrc -s cas_agent .

While the cas_src.sh is running, it writes to a file /dev/null 2>&1 . On a system with cas_src.sh, the ls command will return the following:

# ls -l /dev/null*
crw-rw-rw- 1 root system 2, 2 Oct 14 10:23 /dev/null
-rw------- 1 root system 353471 Oct 14 10:23 /dev/null 2>&1

If the file ulimit (check with ulimit -f command) is set to unlimited, this can fill up the / filesystem.

Related Developerworks document:

https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/wikis/display/WikiPtype/Inconsistent+agent+status+with+cas.agent+1.4.2.32+and+cas.agent+1.4.2.40

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Product:		IBM Systems Director
Release:		6.2.1.2
Function Area:		Usage
Subfunctional Area:		AIX

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