IP PrintWay basic mode external traces

For an external trace, IP PrintWay™ uses the services of the z/OS Generalized Trace Facility (GTF). The trace produced by GTF can contain z/OS system-level information as well as information concerning IP PrintWay activity. For more information about GTF, see z/OS MVS Diagnosis: Tools and Service Aids.

You can start an external trace for the IP PrintWay FSS, as well as external traces for multiple FSAs. The number of FSAs that can be traced is limited to 16. Multiple external traces can be directed to a single GTF data set.

External tracing modes

You can request these modes of external traces. In this way, you can limit the amount of trace data.

• Full trace

  A full trace is the larger and more complete external trace. All IP PrintWay subcomponents are traced. Coaxial Printer Support, which drives VTAM-controlled printers, is also traced. All input records, TCP/IP commands, and VTAM® commands are traced.

• Full, with no tracing of print records

  This trace provides the same information as the full trace. However, input records and TCP/IP commands are not traced. Coaxial Printer Support, which drives VTAM-controlled printers, is also traced. Tracing in Coaxial Printer Support is the same as with the full trace.

You request the tracing mode when you start the trace, either at initialization or using the MVS™ MODIFY operator command.

Tracing considerations

Consider these impacts when selecting the tracing mode:

• Processor usage and throughput

  The FSA full external trace affects processor performance. Do not start a full external trace during peak processor usage. All other traces affect processor performance, but the impact is not as significant.

• Timing Considerations

  Activating any of the traces causes the timing relationships to change, possibly causing the problems to "disappear" when tracing is active. This is especially true for the full external trace. If a problem "disappears" when tracing, specify a different tracing mode, for example, a full trace with no tracing of print records.