OS/390 Debugging with IPCS - A Practitioner Series Course Offering Copyright © 2000 Mentor Services Corp - 200 White Plains Road - Tarrytown - NY 10591.

Introduction: Programmers who support OS/390 need to be able to find symptom data in a system dump (stand-alone or SVC) when a control program failure occurs. In order to locate a correct program fix (PTF), the diagnostician must accurately communicate system status to the IBM support center. Without knowledge of the system structure and IPCS (Interactive Problem Control System), this task is extremely difficult. This course provides the student with a logical diagnostic procedure that simplifies isolation of the failing component. Using IPCS in hands-on labs, the student is taught to analyze dump components in a way that provides all data needed for communication with IBM support personnel. Sound principles for diagnostic data gathering are described in detail. These methods are applied to SVC dumps, SLIP trap dumps, and stand-alone dumps. Access to TSO terminals is required for the lab exercises. Audience: This course is intended for systems programmers who perform problem analysis in an OS/390 environment. Objectives:  On completion of this course, the student should be able to: determine the failing component from an SVC or stand-alone dump use the system traces to find historically significant system events locate diagnostic information from SYS1.LOGREC or the LOGREC buffers in a dump determine what additional data, if any, is required to complete diagnosis of a system dump diagnose a dump on-line with IPCS debug a multi-address space dump with IPCS Prerequisites: A working knowledge of OS/390, which can be obtained by attending OS/390 Concepts and Facilities, OS/390 Structure and Logic, or an equivalent course. Duration: This course is 5 days long.