IT20020: CISCO SWITCH PROBES FAIL WITH BTADS0024E DUE TO NPE DURING ZONING

IBM Spectrum Control 5.2.15.1 - Agents
IBM Spectrum Control 5.2.15.1 - AIX Server
IBM Spectrum Control 5.2.15.1 - Linux Server
IBM Spectrum Control 5.2.15.1 - Windows Server
IBM Spectrum Control V5.2.15.2 (November 2017)
IBM Spectrum Control V5.2.16 (March 2018)
IBM Spectrum Control V5.2.17 (May 2018)

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• Cisco switch probes might fail with zoning errors caused by
  NullPointerExceptions (NPEs).
  
  Error example from msgTPCDeviceServer.log:
  
  java.lang.NullPointerException
  	at
  com.ibm.tpc.discovery.parser.EPFabricZoneProbeParser.parse(EPFab
  ricZoneProbeParser.java:534)
  	at
  com.ibm.tpc.discovery.parser.TSANMLegacyParser$Worker.parse(TSAN
  MLegacyParser.java:539)
  	at
  com.ibm.tpc.discovery.parser.Parser.processJob(Parser.java:21)
  	at
  com.ibm.tpc.discovery.parser.TSANMLegacyParser.process(TSANMLega
  cyParser.java:224)
  	at
  com.ibm.tpc.infrastructure.threads.TPCThread.run(TPCThread.java:
  260)   com.ibm.tpc.discovery.parser.EPFabricZoneProbeParser
  parse()  TSANM Legacy Parser (Thread-134)
  
  	Caused by: java.lang.NullPointerException
  	at
  com.ibm.tpc.fabric.collection.post.FabricPostProbe.getActiveZone
  setDetails(FabricPostProbe.java:920)
  	at
  com.ibm.tpc.fabric.collection.post.FabricPostProbe.postProcessAc
  tiveZoneset(FabricPostProbe.java:881)
  	... 13 more
  com.ibm.tpc.fabric.collection.post.FabricPostProbe
  runPostProcess TSANM Legacy Parser (Thread-134)
  

Local fix

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  * USERS AFFECTED:                                              *
  * IBM Spectrum Control 5.2.x users monitoring Cisco switches   *
  * with zones defined.                                          *
  ****************************************************************
  * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION:                                         *
  * Spectrum Control probes of Cisco switch with zones may fail  *
  * with zoning errors caused by NullPointerExceptions           *
  ****************************************************************
  * RECOMMENDATION:                                              *
  * Apply fix maintenance when available                         *
  ****************************************************************
  

Problem conclusion

• The fix for this APAR is targeted for both of the following:
  
  
  IBM Spectrum Control 5.2.15.1  |  fix pack  |
  5.2.15-TIV-TPC-FP0001  [ target December 2017 ]
  
  http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?&uid=swg21320822
  
  The target dates for future fix packs do not represent a formal
  commitment by IBM. The dates are subject to change without
  notice.
  
  
  
  IBM Spectrum Control 5.3.0  [ target March 2018 ]
  
  http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?&uid=swg21320822
  
  The target dates for future releases do not represent a formal
  commitment by IBM. The dates are subject to change without
  notice.
  

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:

Fix information

• Fixed component name

  TPC

• Fixed component ID

  5608TPC00

Applicable component levels