IC61319: DEFAULT SETTING OF LC_* VARIABLES CAN CAUSE -668 ERROR RETURNED FROM SP USING 'SYSTEM' COMMAND

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• When the IDS startup environment doesn't contain the $LANG (or
  $LC_COLLATE, $LC_CTYPE, $LC_MONETARY, $LC_NUMERIC and $LC_TIME)
  variables, the LC_* variables inside the IDS (as shown by
  'onstat -g env') are set with default values of 'en_US.819'
  locale. Any client session that does not have these variables
  set inherits these settings.
  In these conditions an executable program that has a function
  call 'setlocale(LC_ALL,"")' will fail with -668 error if
  executed via 'SYSTEM' command thru' stored procedure.
  

Local fix

• Set the $LANG variable in the IDS startup environment to a valid
  locale appropriate for the user's environment. These values can
  be obtained by 'locale -a' command. For example, for English
  locale they could be en_US.iso88591 or en_US.utf8.
  

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  * USERS AFFECTED:                                              *
  * All UNIX users                                               *
  ****************************************************************
  * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION:                                         *
  * When LANG and LC_* are not set in the environment from which *
  * IDS is started, IDS assumes a default locale of en_US.819.   *
  * When a stored procedure is executed, these settings are      *
  * inherited by programs or scripts invoked through the         *
  * system() call. Under these circumstances, a stored procedure *
  * that directly or indirectly calls setlocale(LC_ALL, "") will *
  * fail whenever the en_US.819 locale is not installed.         *
  ****************************************************************
  * RECOMMENDATION:                                              *
  * Upgrade to IDS version 11.50.xC5 or above or explicitly set  *
  * LC_ALL to LANG to their preferred locale before bringing up  *
  * the engine.                                                  *
  ****************************************************************
  

Problem conclusion

• The problem is first fixed in IDS 11.50.xC5 to change the
  default locale to en_US.iso8859-1.
  

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:

  IT01446

Fix information

• Fixed component name

  IBM IDS ENTRP E

• Fixed component ID

  5724L2304

Applicable component levels

• RB15 PSY

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