PM59583: APPSERVERS FAIL TO START AFTER APPLYING MAINTENANCE WHEN THE INSTALL PATH USES THE SYMBOL $SYSSYMA AND A SYSTEM SYMBOL

8.0.0.4: WebSphere Application Server V8.0 Fix Pack 4
8.5.0.1: WebSphere Application Server V8.5 Fix Pack 1
8.0.0.5: WebSphere Application Server V8.0 Fix Pack 5
8.5.0.2: WebSphere Application Server V8.5 Fix Pack 2
8.0.0.6: WebSphere Application Server V8.0 Fix Pack 6
8.0.0.7: WebSphere Application Server V8.0 Fix Pack 7
8.0.0.8: WebSphere Application Server V8.0 Fix Pack 8
8.0.0.9: WebSphere Application Server V8.0 Fix Pack 9
8.0.0.10: WebSphere Application Server V8.0 Fix Pack 10
8.0.0.11: WebSphere Application Server V8.0 Fix Pack 11
8.0.0.12: WebSphere Application Server V8.0 Fix Pack 12
8.0.0.13: WebSphere Application Server V8.0 Fix Pack 13
8.0.0.14: WebSphere Application Server V8.0 Fix Pack 14
8.0.0.15: WebSphere Application Server V8.0 Fix Pack 15

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• When maintenance is applied to a cell that uses the $SYSSYMA
  symbol in the install path, the servers of that cell may
  fail to start after the upgrade.  Closer inspection of the logs
  will show that the zUpdateSymlinks.sh script is failing to
  find the real install root when it's run during the postinstall
  processing.
  

Local fix

• A patched zUpdateSymlinks.sh script can be provided once a PMR
  is opened.
  

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  * USERS AFFECTED:  All users of IBM WebSphere Application      *
  *                  Server for z/OS V8.0 and V8.5 that use      *
  *                  static system symbols within intermediate   *
  *                  symbolic links.                             *
  ****************************************************************
  * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: Application servers fail to start       *
  *                      after applying maintenance.             *
  ****************************************************************
  * RECOMMENDATION:                                              *
  ****************************************************************
  Several of the z/OS customization scripts do not handle the
  case in which static system symbols are used within
  intermediate symbolic links. (Intermediate symbolic links are
  used to provide a level of indirection between a configuration
  image and its associated install image.) One of these scripts
  (zUpdateSymlinks.sh) is invoked by the post installer once the
  first server for a node is started after maintenance has been
  applied to the node. The zUpdateSymlinks.sh script will fail
  if an intermediate symbolic link contains a static system
  symbol. (The intermediate symbolic link will start with the
  characters "$SYSSYMR" or "$SYSSYMA" if it contains a static
  system symbol.)
  The zUpdateSymlinks.sh script failure causes the post
  installer to fail which prevents the server from starting.
  

Problem conclusion

• The z/OS customization scripts (including zUpdateSymlinks.sh)
  were updated to correctly handle static system symbols within
  intermediate symbolic links.
  
  APAR PM59583 is currently targeted for inclusion in
  Fix Packs 8.0.0.4 and 8.5.0.1 of WebSphere Application
  Server.
  
  Please refer to the Recommended Updates page for delivery
  information:
  http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=180&uid=swg27004980
  
  In addition, please refer to URL:
  http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=404&uid=swg27006970
  for Fix Pack PTF information.
  

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:

Fix information

• Fixed component name

  WEBSPHERE FOR Z

• Fixed component ID

  5655I3500

Applicable component levels

• R800 PSY

     UP