A fix is available
APAR status
Closed as program error.
Error description
This APAR contains service for z/VM version 7 release 4 Feature Pack 1 Fix Pack 1 INCORRECT OUTPUT FROM DIAG26C SUBCODE 20 --------------------------------------------------------------- ------ Diagnose 26c subcode 20 for response formats 0000 0001 thru 0000 0005 can return VSWITCH information structures with an incorrect structure counter. The diagnose is provided by the invoker with a response buffer. If the response can only partially fit in the response buffer then return code 16 is returned along with the size of the required buffer. In the identified issue, the last VSWITCH structure is the same size as the response buffer. A good return code is provided but the response data contains an incorrect value. ACTIVE SERVER ON VSWITCH WITH HIGH RX DISCARD RATE --------------------------------------------------------------- ------ CP QUERY VSWITCH DETAILS indicated a steady increase in RX Packet Discard count for one user with no clear explanation. After implementing RedHat OCP on zVM the customer noticed significant increases in the number of RX Packets Discarded for the server responsible for managing several other dependent servers. A review of the dropped packets collected via TRSOURCE type LAN trace revealed that these were overflow packets. Most packets were being discarded in sets of (approximately) 1000 packets. The timing of these events lined up with startup times for one or more dependent servers. This normally suggests the presence of a resource constraint affecting the receiver, but monitor data revealed no significant problem in that area. UNEXPECTED FORCE ARCH REQUIRED FOR LGR --------------------------------------------------------------- ------ Customers applying VM66819 APAR across an SSI would eventually need to issue FORCE ARCH relocations to move virtual machines from systems without the APAR applied back to systems that do have VM66819 applied. The problem was caused by the changing of an internal system value (SYSMAXD) between processors. VARIOUS ABENDS SYSTEM ITERATOR SERIALIZATION ISSUE --------------------------------------------------------------- ------ Abends: SIT002 HRM002 PRG005 MPC009 ASR091 MCW002 HTT001 In the iterator, there was an underlying assumption about how to check the table level using STEs that was not correct. This error can cause various abends. We now obtain the table level info from elsewhere. This affects all configurations. PRG004 ABENDS --------------------------------------------------------------- ------ In rare situations, when a guest does not respond to IUCV *MONITOR sample notifications, a PRG004 failure may occur.
Local fix
Problem summary
**************************************************************** * USERS AFFECTED: All users of z/VM * **************************************************************** * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: * **************************************************************** * RECOMMENDATION: APPLY PTF * **************************************************************** This is the APAR for z/VM 7.4 Fix Pack 0101. It contains fixes for the following five problems: Problem 1: UNEXPECTED FORCE ARCH REQUIRED FOR LGR Customers applying APAR VM66819 across an SSI would eventually need to issue FORCE ARCH relocations to move virtual machines from systems without the APAR applied back to systems that do have VM66819 applied. The problem was caused by the changing of an internal system value (SYSMAXD) between processors. ----- Problem 2: PRG004 ABENDS In rare situations, when a guest does not respond to IUCV *MONITOR sample notifications, a PRG004 failure may occur. ----- Problem 3: VARIOUS ABENDS SYSTEM ITERATOR SERIALIZATION ISSUE ABENDS: SIT002 HRM002 PRG005 MPC009 ASR091 MCW002 HTT001 In the iterator, there was an underlying assumption about how to check the table level using STEs that was not correct. This error can cause various abends. We now obtain the table level info from elsewhere. This affects all configurations. ----- Problem 4: ACTIVE SERVER ON VSWITCH WITH HIGH RX DISCARD RATE CP QUERY VSWITCH DETAILS indicated a steady increase in RX Packet Discard count for one user with no clear explanation. After implementing RedHat OCP on zVM the customer noticed significant increases in the number of RX Packets Discarded for the server responsible for managing several other dependent servers. A review of the dropped packets collected via TRSOURCE type LAN trace revealed that these were overflow packets. Most packets were being discarded in sets of (approximately) 1000 packets. The timing of these events lined up with startup times for one or more dependent servers. This normally suggests the presence of a resource constraint affecting the receiver, but monitor data revealed no significant problem in that area. ----- Problem 5: INCORRECT OUTPUT FROM DIAG26C SUBCODE 20 Diagnose 26c subcode 20 for response formats 0000 0001 thru 0000 0005 can return VSWITCH information structures with an incorrect structure counter. The diagnose is provided by the invoker with a response buffer. If the response can only partially fit in the response buffer then return code 16 is returned along with the size of the required buffer. In the identified issue, the last VSWITCH structure is the same size as the response buffer. A good return code is provided but the response data contains an incorrect value.
Problem conclusion
Problem 1: UNEXPECTED FORCE ARCH REQUIRED FOR LGR The setting of a default architectural value in system initialization was reset to a previous value. This prevents virtual machine relocation from failing due to architecture incompatibility checks. ----- Problem 2: PRG004 ABENDS A missing parameter was added to a subroutine call. ----- Problem 3: VARIOUS ABENDS SYSTEM ITERATOR SERIALIZATION ISSUE The iterator was updated to check the HDPBK for table level information instead of checking the first STE in the ST for the table level information. This avoids making the wrong decision if serialization is held on the first STE. ----- Problem 4: ACTIVE SERVER ON VSWITCH WITH HIGH RX DISCARD RATE Additional conditions are established to determine whether VSWITCH should discard packets waiting to be delivered to a guest: (1) Was at least one packet accepted into the guest input buffers recently (within the last 2 seconds)? If not, the queue can be discarded because this server is not able to process the incoming stream of data. (2) Is the queue size still within a more relaxed threshold (four times the normal threshold)? If not, the queue can be discarded because this server is not able to keep up with the inbound flow. If both answers are "yes" then VSWITCH logic will keep the pending queue and attempt to deliver it when the guest is open for more input data. ----- Problem 5: INCORRECT OUTPUT FROM DIAG26C SUBCODE 20 To resolve the problem, the improper return code and possible hanging pointer were addressed. In the event that the lengths are equivalent, as described in the Summary, then the routine will ensure that a portion in the data structure for the output buffer is cleared. This will prevent infinite looping in the event that the caller does attempt to process the data returned. Furthermore, upon equivalence, the return code will indicate to the caller that a larger buffer size is necessary, instead of indicating that the call was successful with no issues (as the routine normally does under non-equivalent conditions).
Temporary fix
********* * HIPER * ********* FOR RELEASE VM/ESA CP/ESA R740 : PREREQ: VM66829 CO-REQ: NONE IF-REQ: NONE
Comments
×**** PE25/05/27 PTF IN ERROR. SEE APAR VM66844 FOR DESCRIPTION ×**** PE25/04/30 FIX IN ERROR. SEE APAR VM66844 FOR DESCRIPTION ×**** PE25/04/30 FIX IN ERROR. SEE APAR VM66844 FOR DESCRIPTION
APAR Information
APAR number
VM66839
Reported component name
VM CP CP
Reported component ID
568411202
Reported release
740
Status
CLOSED PER
PE
NoPE
HIPER
YesHIPER
Special Attention
NoSpecatt / Xsystem
Submitted date
2025-04-04
Closed date
2025-05-01
Last modified date
2025-09-30
APAR is sysrouted FROM one or more of the following:
APAR is sysrouted TO one or more of the following:
UM90524
Modules/Macros
HCPCPE HCPHDI HCPHDPBK HCPHDT HCPHDU HCPIQR HCPMNS HCPNIDBK HCPSEGTE HCPSWD HCPZCP 7VMCPR40
Fix information
Fixed component name
VM CP CP
Fixed component ID
568411202
Applicable component levels
R740 PSY UM90524
UP25/05/02 P 2502 ¢
Fix is available
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Document Information
Modified date:
30 September 2025