Submitting a Testcase for Dump Analysis

Technote (FAQ)

Answer

This document covers submitting a testcase for dump analysis of a system crash or system hang situation. This document applies to AIX versions 4, 5, 6, and VIO servers.

Creating a snap for a VIO server
Check the dump size for AIX crash dumps
Packaging the dump for submission
What to do if the dump is on tape
Naming convention for the testcase
Where to submit the testcase
In case the ftp connection drops

Creating a snap for a VIO server

To create a snap for a VIO server, log in to the server using the "padmin" account. Type:

$snap
and press enter.

This will create a snap.pax.Z file in the /home/padmin/ibmsupt directory.
Proceed to the section, "Naming convention for the testcase".

Please note that more detailed instructions regarding snaps for VIO servers can be found in this technote:

Check the dump size for AIX crash dumps

Check the size of the current dump and see which file system will have enough space to package the dump (the default file system is /tmp).

Look at the dump size. If the dump is compressed you will need to find a file system that is double this size plus another 150MB. This is because the dump is written out, along with other information, after which a compressed pax file is created. If the dump is not compressed the snap process will create a compressed dump file before creating the pax file. Compression may reduce the dump from half to one quarter of its initial size.

Execute #df -m to find a filesystem with enough space to package the complete snap. Once a file system has been found, proceed to the appropriate section.

Packaging the dump for submission

If there is enough space in the /tmp filesystem, follow Procedure 1; otherwise, skip to Procedure 2.

Procedure 1

Packaging dump the for submission when there is room in /tmp.

# snap -acN
# cd /tmp/ibmsupt/dump
# ls

Ensure that unix.Z, dump.snap and dump.Z(or dump.BZ) are present.

# cd /tmp/ibmsupt
# snap -c

This will create a snap.pax.Z file in the /tmp/ibmsupt directory.
Proceed to the section, "Naming convention for the testcase".

Procedure 2

Packaging the dump for submission when there is no room in /tmp. / represents the filesytem with sufficient space.

# snap -acNd /ibmsupt
# cd /ibmsupt/dump
# ls

Ensure that unix.Z, dump.snap and dump.Z (or dump.BZ) are present.

# snap -cd /ibmsupt

This will create a snap.pax.Z file in /< filesystem>/ibmsupt directory.
Proceed to the section, "Naming convention for the testcase".

What to do if the dump is on tape

Put the tape in the tape drive.
Find a filesystem with sufficient space and enter the following:
NOTE: / represents the filesystem with sufficient space.

        # cd /
        # mkdir ibmsupt
        # cd ibmsupt
        # pax -rvf /dev/rmt#

NOTE: If you are running AIX 4.3.3 with Maintenance Level 06 or below, you cannot execute pax command. You must execute the following:

        #tar -xvf /dev/rmt#

The pax or tar command will create a file called dump_file in //ibmsupt. Continue with the following steps:

        # snap -aNd /ibmsupt
        # mv dump_file /ibmsupt/dump/dump_file
        # cd /ibmsupt/dump
        # ls ->

Ensure that unix.Z, dump.snap and dump.Z (or dump.BZ) are present.

        # cd /ibmsupt
        # snap -cd /ibmsupt

This will create a snap.pax.Z file in /ibmsupt directory.
Proceed to the section, "Naming convention for thet testcase".

Naming convention for the testcase

The snap file will need to be renamed to pmr#.branch#.countrycode.snap.pax.Z.

# mv snap.pax.Z

This prepends your problem record, branch number, and country code so the testcase can be uniquely identified. Please note: it is important to include the country code. This requirement is new for US customers. This data is archived along with data from international customers and therefore needs to be differentiated from other PMRs.. If it cannot be properly associated with a pmr it will be treated as a bad testcase and will not be saved. This also means that testcases that have dates instead of country codes may be lost. The country code for US customers is 000.

For example, if your pmr is 12345,456,000 (which is PMR 12345, branch 456, and country code 000) you would then rename your pax file in this manner:

# mv snap.pax.Z 12345.456.000.snap.pax.Z

Where to submit the testcase

After the snap file has been renamed, you have two options to submit it electronically. Please note that files must be deposited under /toibm/aix.

Submitting the snap via ftp

ftp testcase.software.ibm.com
login: anonymous
password:
ftp> cd /toibm/aix
ftp> bin
ftp> passive
ftp> hash (Note: This will print # symbols so you can see progress)
ftp> put
ftp> quit

Using a web browser to submit your snap

An alternate method of submitting a dump is to use a web based browser to connect to testcase.software.ibm.com. You then log in as anonymous with your email address, change directories to /toibm/aix, and upload your snap.

In case the ftp connection drops

If for some reason the connection drops when you are submitting the snap you will need to resend it. Please be aware that you will not be able to overwrite the file that is currently on the ftp site. In order to keep the naming convention mentioned above, please put a .1. or a .2. in the name of the snap. For example, if the snap is currently named

    12345.456.000.snap.pax.Z
    rename it to
    12345.456.000.1.snap.pax.Z