When VSAM errors occur during attempts to access a CSI data set

VSAM RPL control blocks can be dumped when an error occurs during an attempt to access a CSI data set. This RPL dump can be used to analyze the cause of the error.

Note: Because VPLFUNCT values refer to types of internal SMP/E processing, they can be used only in conjunction with the IBM® Support Center and are not described in this publication.

To obtain this dump, use the DEBUG DUMPRPL and DEBUG DUMPOFF commands. For the dump output, you must define the SMPDEBUG data set with either a DD statement or a DDDEF entry.

To request a dump of the VSAM RPL control block, enter the following command after the SET command and before the command experiencing the error:
DEBUG DUMPRPL(vplfunct[,vplfunct]…) .
vplfunct

is a VPLFUNCT value supplied by IBM.
Note: You can combine VPLFUNCT values and dump points on the same DEBUG DUMPOFF command.
To stop specific dumps, enter the following command after the command experiencing the error:
DEBUG DUMPOFF(vplfunct[,vplfunct]…) .
vplfunct

is a VPLFUNCT value specified on a previous DEBUG DUMPRPL command.
To stop all DEBUG dumps, enter the following command after the command experiencing the error:
DEBUG DUMPOFF .
Note: This stops all DEBUG dumps, including those requested with DEBUG DUMPMSG, which is described in When specific messages are issued. Use this command only if you want to stop all DEBUG dumping.

If you specify DUMPON or DUMPRPL and DUMPOFF on the same DEBUG command, these operands are processed in the order in which they occur. If you specify the same dump ID on both operands, the last specification is used.

The DEBUG commands cause an RPL dump to be written to the SMPDEBUG data set.

The RPL fields that you should check first are in the feedback word at offset X'0C' (the RPL function, the RPL return code, and the error code), as follows:

X'00'

ID word

X'04'

Pointer to placeholder

X'08'

ECB information

X'0C'

Feedback word

X'0C'

Function <===

X'0D'

Feedback area

X'0D': RPL return code <===
X'0E': RPL condition
X'0F': Error code <===

For an explanation of the RPL return and error codes, see z/OS DFSMS Macro Instructions for Data Sets.

For more information on the DEBUG command, see SMP/E for z/OS Commands.