IZ91969: SSMV4 : MEMORY LEAK SEEN WHEN HRDEVICESTATUS USED TO MONITOR DISK STORAGE DEVICES IN SOLARIS ZONES

IBM Netcool System Service Monitor SSM 4.0 Fix Pack 12 README 4.0.0-TIV-SSM-FP0012
IBM Netcool System Service Monitor SSM 4.0 Fix Pack 13 README 4.0.0-TIV-SSM-FP0013
IBM Netcool System Service Monitor SSM 4.0 Fix Pack 14 README 4.0.0-TIV-SSM-FP0014
IBM Netcool System Service Monitor SSM 4.0 Interim Fix 1 README 4.0.0.14-TIV-SSM-IF0001
IBM Netcool System Service Monitor SSM 4.0 Interim Fix 2 README 4.0.0.14-TIV-SSM-IF0002
IBM Netcool System Service Monitor SSM 4.0 Interim Fix 3 README 4.0.0.14-TIV-SSM-IF0003
IBM Netcool System Service Monitor SSM 4.0 Interim Fix 4 README 4.0.0.14-TIV-SSM-IF0004
IBM Netcool System Service Monitor SSM 4.0 Interim Fix 5 README 4.0.0.14-TIV-SSM-IF0005
IBM Netcool System Service Monitor SSM 4.0 Interim Fix 6 README 4.0.0.14-TIV-SSM-IF0006
IBM Netcool System Service Monitor SSM 4.0 Interim Fix 7 README 4.0.0.14-TIV-SSM-IF0007
IBM Netcool System Service Monitor SSM 4.0 Interim Fix 8 README 4.0.0.14-TIV-SSM-IF0008
IBM Netcool System Service Monitor SSM 4.0 Interim Fix 1 README 4.0.0.15-TIV-SSM-IF0001

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• The hrDeviceStatus monitoring within Solaris Zones causes the
  ssm agent memory to increase steadily until the process cores
  once memory is exhausted
  

Local fix

• Request latest test fix patch for ssmv4:-
  
  Installation instructions:
  
  1) Install text fix patch
  2) Stop the SSM in the affected zone.
  3) Turn hrDeviceStatus off in the init.cfg file;
  
  
  HostresCallDiInit=off
  
  4) Start the SSM.
  
  OR
  
  Restart the ssm agent frequently to prevent memory exhaustion
  

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  * USERS AFFECTED:                                              *
  * Users of the SSM Hostres Sub-agent running on a Solaris 8 or *
  * 9 branded zone.                                              *
  ****************************************************************
  * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION:                                         *
  * A gradual memory leak occurred when polling the hostres      *
  * subagent. Memory usage for the process will increase without *
  * bound until the process terminates. The problem is caused by *
  * calling a system call, di_init in this zone configuration.   *
  * This call seems to allocate memory that we cannot            *
  * deallocate.                                                  *
  ****************************************************************
  * RECOMMENDATION:                                              *
  * Update to SSM Fix pack 12.                                   *
  ****************************************************************
  

Problem conclusion

• Introduced new INIVAR called HostresCallDiInit  which can be set
  to off in the init.cfg file. Setting this to off prevents the
  subagent from calling di_init, preventing the leak.
  
  The fix for this APAR is contained in the following maintenance
  packages:
      | fix pack | 4.0.0-TIV-SSM-FP0012
  

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

  NETCOOL SYS SVC

• Fixed component ID

  5724P4300

Applicable component levels

• R400 PSY

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