Interactive problem control system (IPCS)

The interactive problem control system (IPCS) provides installations with an interactive, online facility for diagnosing software failures. Using unformatted dumps, IPCS formats and analyzes them to produce reports that you either view at the terminal or print. As you examine the dump of a software failure, IPCS accumulates information about the dump. IPCS uses the information it gathers each time you process the dump.

See z/OS MVS IPCS User's Guide for information on how to use IPCS and z/OS MVS IPCS Commands for information on the IPCS commands and examples.

For product information and programming requirements needed to use IPCS, customize access to IPC and examples on writing exit routines, see z/OS MVS IPCS Customization.

IPCS enables you to analyze these types of dumps:
  • System dumps
    • ABEND dumps
    • SVC dumps
    • Stand alone dumps.

    Tip: System dumps might include GTF trace data.

  • Live system storage
  • External GTF trace information written to direct access or tape storage devices