Searching for a known problem

To produce the best match of the problem in the IBM databases, it is important to know the IBM standardized symptoms.

Use a search argument of standardized symptoms when performing a search for a known problem in the Technical Support database, IBMLink™ or when reporting a problem to IBM:

Always concatenate a number to a word when it modifies that word (for example, SVC13, ABEND0C4)
Use the word "missing" whenever messages are not as expected
Never abbreviate system commands
Include = in a search argument with no blanks on either side (for example, DISP=MOD is correct)
Do not use hyphens in search arguments (for example, SC231234 is the correct way to enter a publication number).

The standardized symptom table describes common symptom keywords to use while doing a search for a known problem or reporting a problem to IBM:

Table 1. Standardized symptom keyword table
Free-format symptom	Problem data
ABENDxxx	Any system abend except JES3; where xxx is the hexadecimal value of the abend code, always 3 digits including leading zeros
ABENDDMxxx	JES3 abend; where xxx is the hexadecimal value of the abend code, always 3 digits including leading zeros
ABENDUxxxx	User abend; where xxxx is the user abend code
AMODE31	Program running in AMODE 31 (31-bit mode)
AMODE64	Program running in AMODE 64 (64-bit mode)
ARnn	Access register; where nn is the decimal register number without leading zeros
CRnn	Control register; where nn is the decimal register number without leading zeros
D/Txxxx	Device type; where xxxx is the device number
DATASET	Data set
DEQ	Dequeue
DESCCODEnn	WTO descriptor code; where nn is the decimal value of the code, 1-13, without leading zeros
ENQ	Enqueue
ERRNO2n...n	Where n...n is the 4 byte hexadecimal value of the errno2
ERRNOJRn...n	Where n...n is the 4 byte hexadecimal value of the errnojr
ERRNOnnn	Where nnn is the errno in decimal
HANG	Always include this form of the word
I/O	Input Output
KEYn	PSW Key or Storage Key (in hex)
KEYnn	PSW Key or Storage Key (in dec)
LATCH#nn	Where nnn is decimal latch number without leading zeros (for example: LATCH#2)
LOOP	Always include this form of the word
LPAR	Logical Partition (PR/SM™)
LU62	Logical Unit 6.2 protocol
MIH	Missing interrupt handler
MSGxxxx	Any message except JES2 messages; where xxxx is the complete message id of any length
MSGHASPxxx	JES2 messages; note that the '$' prefix has been removed and xxx is the message id of any length
OVERLAY	Storage overlay; always include this form of the word
PAGEFIX	Page-Fix
PICxx	Program Interrupt Code associated with ABEND0Cx; where xx is the interrupt code, always 2 digits with leading zeros
Rxxx	Release level; where xxx is the product release level
RCnn	Return code; where nn is decimal or hexadecimal and at least two digits
REGnn	General purpose register; where nn is the decimal register number without leading zeros
ROUTCODEnnn	WTO route code; where nnn is the decimal value of the code, 1-128, without leading zeros
RSNxxx	Reason code; where xxx is the hexadecimal reason code of any length
SADMP	Stand-alone dump
SIGxxxx	Where xxx is the name of the signal (for example: SIGTERM)
SIO	Start Input Output
SMFTYPEnnn	SMF type records; where nnn is the decimal value of the record, 0-255, without leading zeros
SUBTYPEnnn	SMF subtype records; where nnn is the decimal value of subtype, 0-255, without leading zeros. Also make sure the SMFTYPEnnn is included
SPnnn	Subpool number; where nnn is the decimal value of subpool, 0-255, with no leading zeros
SVCnnn	Supervisor Call; where nnn is the decimal value of the SVC, 0-255, with no leading zeros
VOLSER	Volume serial
WAIT	Always use this form of the word
WAITxxx	System wait state; where xxx is the hex value of the wait code, always 3 digits including leading zeros
Z/ARCHITECTURE	64-bit mode