IV84599: LINUX AGENT OCCASIONALLY ABENDS

6.3.0.7-TIV-ITM_TEMA-IF0007

IBM Tivoli Monitoring 6.3.0 Fix Pack 7 Service Pack 1 (6.3.0.7-TIV-ITM-SP0001)

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• ERROR DESCRIPTION:Ø
  PROBLEM DESCRIPTION:
  ITM Linux agent (v6.3.0.6) crashes randomly, and although it is
  restarted by the watchdog process, it keeps creating core files
  within /opt/IBM/ITM/bin. The Agent is executing Autonomous mode
  when the failure occurs.
  
  The trace log file shows that an instruction for the TRANSCON
  situation is NULL.
  
  RECREATE INSTRUCTIONS:
  This problem is timing related, and is seen only under specific
  environmental conditions when many Threads are being serviced
  by the
  Tivoli Enterprise Monitoring Agent Framework. Reproducing the
  problem
  is extremely difficult.
  

Local fix

• LOCAL FIX:Ø
  n/a
  

Problem summary

• The Linux Operating System Agent will abend periodically during
  the course of its processing.  The Agent is running in Autonmous
   Mode (without connectivity to a Monitoring Server) and is using
   the services of a Central Configuration Server to support the
  Agent's configuration.
  
  
  When executing in the Autonomous Mode, the Agent's Agent Service
  Interface processing will control the processing associated with
  the retrieval of Agent configuration information from the
  Central Configuration Server.  It also controls the execution of
  Private Situations processed by the Agent.  The orderly of
  processing of Situations and Configuration processing is managed
  using the 'Active' queue.  The Active queue does not have any
  locking implementation, and as a result it is possible for
  Active queue elements to be removed while other threads are also
  accessing elements on the same queue.  Without any lock
  implementation it is possible for multiple threads to access to
  released memory which may result in an memory access violation
  and subsequent abend of the process.
  

Problem conclusion

• Implement a locking mechanism for the Active queue used by the
  Agent Service Interface.
  
  
  The fix for this APAR is contained in the following maintenance
  packages:
  
     | service pack | 6.3.0.7-TIV-ITM-SP0001
  
     | interim fix | 6.3.0.7-TIV-ITM_TEMA-IF0007
  

Temporary fix

Comments

APAR Information

• APAR is sysrouted FROM one or more of the following:

• APAR is sysrouted TO one or more of the following:

  OA56403

Fix information

• Fixed component name

  TEMA

• Fixed component ID

  5724C04TE

Applicable component levels