Symptom string structure

A symptom string is included in the dump for an abend, the dump for a program check, and the dump for a first failure support technology (FFST™) probe point.

Message IST931I is issued for abend messages, and messages beginning with EPW are issued for FFST. Both the IST and the EPW messages contain the symptom text string. Figure 1 shows an example of a symptom text string for an abend dump. For information about FFST symptom strings, see z/OS Communications Server: SNA Diagnosis Vol 2, FFST Dumps and the VIT.

Figure 1. Example of a symptom text string in output

AB/S00C4  PIDS/5695-11701  LVLS/301  LVLS/91.025  RIDS/ISTCFCWM
RIDS/ISTAPCES#R  RIDS/ISTCFCR2#L  FLDS/PSW  ADRS/000006C4
VALU/HB0044770  FLDS/POWPSSQ  ADRS/00000F1C REGS/0C6A2  REGS/0A018
VALU/HE0044770  PIDS/568508501  PTFS/0000000  PRCS/00000010

The meanings of the fields are given:

AB

Abend interrupt code, such as 0C4.

ADRS

Offset into the failing VTAM® module.

DEVS

Device type and model related to the problem or generic device class.

FLDS

Fields, control blocks, and DSECTs labels.

LVLS

VTAM version and release level, or Julian date when the failing module was compiled. If LVLS appears twice in the symptom string, then it shows each of these values separately.

MS

Program or device message.

OPCS

Operation codes.

OVS

Storage or core that was overlaid.

PCSS

Statements, commands, JCL.

PIDS

VTAM component ID.

PRCS

Return code, status code, condition, feedback.

PTFS

VTAM service level.

REGS

The first two hexadecimal digits show the register number, and the next three hexadecimal digits show the displacement. The displacement value is the difference between the value of the PSW Instruction Address and the content of the register. Each REGS field is shown only if the value is less than the PSW, and if the difference is less than 4K.

If the REGS field has a value of X'FFFFF', then no register contents are less than the value of the PSW Instruction Address and within 4K of the PSW Instruction Address.

If the REGS field has a value of X'FF000', the failing CSECT used relative branching support, so no register contents are less than the value of the PSW Instruction Address and within 4K of the PSW Instruction Address. CSECTs that use relative branching support have no base registers, so this symptom string can be expected.

If the REGS field has a value of X'FE000', then the value of the PSW Instruction Address is less than decimal 512.

RIDS

One of three kinds of modules:

Recovery module, if followed by #R
Load module, if followed by #L
CSECT name of the failing VTAM module, if not followed by anything

SIG

System or device issued operator warning signal.

VALU

Field value or overlay length.

WS

Wait state.