IBM AS/400 manual Troubleshooting communications problems

Chapter 8. Troubleshooting communications problems

If you suspect you have a problem with communications connectivity, the AS/400 system provides a set of tools to help you with problem analysis tasks. The list below contains some of the more common tools for communications problem analysis.

You can do the following to identify communication problems:

v“Displaying message queues to solve communication problems”

v“Displaying the Product Activity Log to solve communication problems” on page 80

v“Displaying the Print Error Log to solve communication problems” on page 80

You can do the following to solve communication problems:

v“Solving communication problems using communications trace” on page 81

v“Solving communication problems using the system problem log” on page 83

v“Solving communication problems using status information” on page 84

v“Considerations for system tuning during error recovery” on page 84

v“Using error messages to aid in error recovery” on page 84

In addition, when a local system rejects an incoming program start request, a message is sent to the system operator message queue. You can use reason codes to determine why the program start request was rejected.

Displaying message queues to solve communication problems

Message queues receive some messages that are related to communications failures. The message lists possible causes of the problem and additional information, depending on the problem, and the suggested problem analysis tool.

To display message queues, follow these steps:

1.On the AS/400 command line, type DSPMSG MSGQ(XXXX), in which XXXX may be: v The message queue identified by the QCFGMSGQ system value

–The default value is QSYSOPR

–Or, message queue if the system value has been changed

vFor lines, controllers, and devices which support the MSGQ parameter, the message queue is specified in the configuration object

vFor display devices, the message queue that matches the device name

2.Press the Enter key.

3.In the Display Message display, read the messages pertaining to communications problems that are displayed in the message queue. The object name in the message directs you to the communications objects in error.

4.For messages in the queue with an * in the farthest left position, press F14 to perform additional tests. This calls the Work with Problems tool.

For related information, see:

vMessage queues

v“Solving communication problems using the system problem log” on page 83

v“Job logs and communication problems” on page 80

v“System service tools and communication problems” on page 82

v“Using error messages to aid in error recovery” on page 84

© Copyright IBM Corp. 1998, 2001 79