Capturing OAM diagnostic data

OAM uses SVC dumps as a diagnostic tool for system hangs or performance problems. To capture this data, issue the DUMP command after the problem has been recreated or at the time of failure. OAM provides a streamlined version of the previous DUMP command. The F OAM,DUMP,(operands) command automatically collects all the pertinent data needed for diagnostic purposes without you having to key in all the correct parameters.

The syntax of the F OAM,DUMP command follows:

Read syntax diagramSkip visual syntax diagramMODIFYFOAM,DUMP,OAMALLASID, asid1,asid2,…JOBN, jobname1,jobname2,…
Note: OAM is the default name of the cataloged procedure in your SYS1.PROCLIB. If a name other than OAM is used for the cataloged procedure, use that name in the DUMP statement. For example, MODIFY procname_name,DUMP,OAM.
OAM
Specifies a request to schedule an SVC dump for the OAM address space. If the first operand after the DUMP verb is either OAM or blank, OAM schedules an SVC dump for the OAM address space.
ALL
An SVC dump is scheduled for the OAM address space and any address spaces which currently have work queued to the OAM address space, up to 14 address spaces in addition to OAM.

If the first operand after the DUMP verb is ALL, OAM scans all queues to identify address spaces that are not the OAM address space. OAM scans until all queues are searched or 14 address spaces are found. OAM then schedules an SVC dump for the OAM address space and up to 14 other address spaces that currently have work queued in the OAM address space.

ASID (address space identifier),asid1,asid2,asid3...
An SVC dump is scheduled for the OAM address space and any address spaces specified after the ASID operand separated by commas. A valid ASID is a 1 to 4 hexadecimal (0–9, A–F) value. From one to 14 ASIDs can be specified with the ASID operand. If more than 14 ASIDs are specified, the first 14 will be used.

If the first operand after the DUMP verb is ASID, OAM validates that any ASIDs specified following the ASID operand are valid hexadecimal characters (0–9, A–F). If they are valid, OAM, schedules an SVC dump for the OAM address space and any additional address spaces specified (up to 14 address spaces in addition to OAM).

JOBN (job name),jobname1,jobname2,jobname3...
An SVC dump is scheduled for the OAM address space and any job spaces specified after the JOBN operand separated by commas. A valid job name is a 1 to 8 character value of the following character set:
  • Alphanumeric characters (A–Z, 0–9)
  • National characters (&, $, @)
  • Wildcard characters (*, ?) where ‘*’ can stand for 0 or more characters, up to the maximum length of the job name string (8) and ‘?’ can stand for one character.

From one to 14 job names can be specified with the JOBN operand. If more than 14 job names are specified, the first 14 will be used.

If the first operand after the DUMP verb is JOBN, OAM validates that any job names specified following the JOBN operand contain the valid character set. If they are valid, OAM schedules an SVC dump for the OAM address space and any job names specified (up to 14 jobs in addition to OAM).

OAM issues messages for any errors found in the DUMP command at SVC scheduling time and at SVC DUMP data capture completion. For more information concerning these messages, see z/OS MVS System Messages, Vol 4 (CBD-DMO).