IC92662: TSM CLIENT CAN CRASH WITH CERTAIN NODENAMES ON LINUX DISTRIBUTIONS IF USING GLIBC 2.16 OR HIGHER IN THE FUTURE

IBM Tivoli Storage Manager (TSM) Client 6.3.2 Downloads and READMEs
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APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• A code defect has been detected in the
  TSM Linux x86 client. While it does not manifest
  today in any currently-supported Linux distributions,
  here would be the symptom:
  When PASSWORDACCESS is set to GENERATE, TSM Linux client
  could crash when trying to read or write the password file.
  
  This will happen when installed glibc is version 2.16 or higher,
  and only with certain node names. It is not possible to
  identify the node name pattern triggering the issue. The
  crash can occur on short and long names, with and without
  non-alpha characters. However, when the failing combination
  of characters is used as the node name, the problem is
  consistently recreatable.
  
  One class of node names known to trigger the issue are the
  names of 3 symbols or less. For example, ABC, F35, R2 etc.
  
  An example of a longer node name is LINUX-123456
  
  Since currently-supported RedHet and SuSE distributions
  do not yet support this Glibc level, there is no current
  error. However, this APAR is being opened to address
  the potential future issue when that Glibc level is
  supported.
  

Local fix

• One of the following workarounds can be used:
  
  1. Downgrade glibc to version 2.15 or lower, if possible.
  
  2. Change the node name. In most cases, adding, deleting or
     modifying a single character is sufficient.
  
  3. Set PASSWORDACCESS to PROMPT and add PASSWORD option to
     your dsm.sys options file. Make sure to restrict file
     system access to dsm.sys so non-authorized users can't
     see the node password.
  
     Note: This circumvention does not work for restore or
     retrieve operations.
  

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  * USERS AFFECTED: All clients versions 6.3 and 6.4 running     *
  *                 on Linux platforms with glibc version 2.16   *
  *                 or higher.                                   *
  ****************************************************************
  * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: See ERROR DESCRIPTION.                  *
  ****************************************************************
  * RECOMMENDATION: Apply fixing level when available. This      *
  *                 problem is currently projected to be fixed   *
  *                 in levels 6.3.2 and 6.4.2. Note that until   *
  *                 these levels are available, this             *
  *                 information is subject to change at the      *
  *                 discretion of IBM.                           *
  ****************************************************************
  *
  

Problem conclusion

• The problem has been fixed so that it no longer occurs.
  

Temporary fix

Comments

APAR Information

• APAR is sysrouted FROM one or more of the following:

• APAR is sysrouted TO one or more of the following:

Modules/Macros

• DSMC
  

Fix information

• Fixed component name

  TSM CLIENT

• Fixed component ID

  5698ISMCL

Applicable component levels

• R63L PSY

     UP

• R64L PSY

     UP