PI81329: NCSA ACCESS LOGS %B OPTION OUTPUT DISPLAYS "-" INSTEAD OF THE SIZE OF THE RESPONSE IN BYTES

Fixes are available

APAR status

Closed as program error.

Error description

NCSA access logs %b option output displays as "-" instead of the
size of the response in bytes.

Local fix

Problem summary

****************************************************************
* USERS AFFECTED:  IBM WebSphere Application Server Version    *
*                  8.5.5,                                      *
*                  9.0, and Liberty Full Profile users of the  *
*                  National Center for Supercomputing          *
*                  Applications                                *
*                  (NCSA) Access Log                           *
****************************************************************
* PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: The NCSA access data log's %b and %B    *
*                      may                                     *
*                      return the incorrect response body      *
*                      size.                                   *
****************************************************************
* RECOMMENDATION:                                              *
****************************************************************
The %b and %B directives utilize the content-length header, if
present, to log the response body size. When this header is not
present, the directives use the HTTP Channel to determine how
many bytes were written out for the response's body. However,
this approach could erroneously report response sizes in cases
where there was no body sent on the response. An example of this
can be seen in HEAD requests, which could have a content-length
header set and, by specification, will not return a body on the
response. While the expected result should read "-" on %b and
"0"
on %B, they would both log the content-length header value.
Additionally, both directives have a problem regarding chunked
encoded responses. In these cases, both directives will
currently
log "-".

Problem conclusion

The HTTP Channel was modified to correctly track the amount of
bytes written by all responses. The NCSA log's %b and %B
directives were modified to use this HTTP Channel change to
correctly report response sizes.

The fix for this APAR is currently targeted for inclusion in
fix packs 8.5.5.13, 9.0.0.6, 17.0.0.3.  Please refer to the
Recommended Updates
page for delivery information:
http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=180&uid=swg27004980

Temporary fix

Comments

APAR Information

APAR number
PI81329
Reported component name
WEBS APP SERV N
Reported component ID
5724H8800
Reported release
850
Status
CLOSED PER
PE
NoPE
HIPER
NoHIPER
Special Attention
NoSpecatt / Xsystem
Submitted date
2017-05-09
Closed date
2017-09-14
Last modified date
2017-09-14

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

Fix information

Fixed component name
WEBS APP SERV N
Fixed component ID
5724H8800

Applicable component levels

R850 PSY
UP

[{"Business Unit":{"code":"BU059","label":"IBM Software w\/o TPS"},"Product":{"code":"SSEQTP","label":"WebSphere Application Server"},"Platform":[{"code":"PF025","label":"Platform Independent"}],"Version":"8.5","Line of Business":{"code":"LOB45","label":"Automation"}}]

Document Information

Modified date:
04 May 2022

Tips

PI81329: NCSA ACCESS LOGS %B OPTION OUTPUT DISPLAYS "-" INSTEAD OF THE SIZE OF THE RESPONSE IN BYTES

Fixes are available

Subscribe

APAR status

Closed as program error.

Error description

Local fix

Problem summary

Problem conclusion

Temporary fix

Comments

APAR Information

APAR number

Reported component name

Reported component ID

Reported release

Status

PE

HIPER

Special Attention

Submitted date

Closed date

Last modified date

APAR is sysrouted FROM one or more of the following:

APAR is sysrouted TO one or more of the following:

Fix information

Fixed component name

Fixed component ID

Applicable component levels

R850 PSY

Document Information

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