Tracing a PPC Gateway server

Tracing in a PPC Gateway server is controlled by the -t and -T parameters of the cicsppcgwy.

The -t option tells the PPC Gateway server which components in the PPC Gateway server to trace. Here are some examples of PPC Gateway server components:

ppc_sna: This component issues the calls to your SNA product. Tracing ppc_sna shows you the calls that are being made and the responses given.
ppc_gwy: This component provides the overall control for the PPC Gateway server. Tracing ppc_gwy shows you the requests that the PPC Gateway server is processing.
ppc_tcp: This component controls the communications to your CICS® region across TCP/IP.
ppc_snp: This component controls sync point and backout processing.
ppc_rsn: This component controls resynchronization.

To turn tracing on in a component, specify the component name followed by :0x1f. For example:

 
    -t ppc_sna:0x1f

You can specify more than one component as follows:

 
    -t ppc_sna:0x1f:ppc_gwy:0x1f

The -T parameter specifies where the trace information is written to. If you do not specify a -T parameter, the destination for trace is the internal ring buffer in the PPC Gateway server. This is a cyclic buffer so only the most recent trace is kept. You can display the contents of the ring buffer by using the tkadmin dump ringbuffer. The trace information is also dumped to the EncinaBacktrace file that the PPC Gateway server produces when it exits unexpectedly. Using the ring buffer is useful if the PPC Gateway server has to run for a while before the problem that you are trying to trace occurs. If you want the trace to be written to the same file as are the PPC Gateway server messages, specify -T all:stdout. If you want the trace to be written to another file, specify -T all:filename. This command also causes the PPC Gateway server messages to be written to this file.

The example below shows the:

/.:/cics/ppc/gateway/cicsgwy

PPC Gateway server being started with components ppc_sna and ppc_gwy tracing. The output will be written to the PPC Gateway server's message file:

/var/cics_servers/GSD/cics/ppc/gateway/cicsgwy/msg

% cicsppcgwy /.:/cics/ppc/gateway/cicsgwy -t ppc_sna:0x1f:ppc_gwy:\
          0x1f -T all:/var/cics_servers/GSD/cics/ppc/gateway/cicsgwy/msg

Note: Your PPC Gateway server can produce a large amount of trace output so, if you have requested that the trace be sent to a file, ensure that there is plenty of disk space available. Trace also slows down the PPC Gateway server. Therefore, use it only when you are trying to solve a problem.