IZ74621: LOG FILE ON LINUX GROWING VERY LARGE

IBM Tivoli Monitoring for Virtual Servers: VMware VI 6.2.1-TIV-ITM_VMWVI-IF0008

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• When the VMware VI agent runs on Linux, a log
  file increases in size until the agent is stopped.
  The name of the log file is
  $CANDLEHOME/logs/<hostname>_vm_<timestamp>.log.
  RECREATE INSTRUCTIONS: Run the agent as normal.
  

Local fix

• The log file is a result of the TEMA storing stdout and stderr
  to this file, as seen at the top of the
  /opt/tivoli/itm/logs/vm.env file.
  The kvmagent process is also duplicating the log information
  sent to the kvm_data_provider_[number].log files (which are
  maintained withvariables set via the VMware VI agent
  configuration panels) to stderr.
  
  
  To prevent the VMware VI agent data provider from writing the
  stderr messages to this file, append "2>/dev/null" to the java
  line in the data provider launch script, kvm_data_provider.sh:
  ---
  
  cd $CANDLEHOME/<platform>/vm/bin/
  vi kvm_data_provider.sh
  
  Change:
  `$CANDLEHOME/bin/CandleGetJavaHome`/bin/java $KVM_JVM_ARGS
  com.ibm.tivoli.monitoring.agent.kvm.itm.FactoryInterfaceControll
  er
  
  to
  
  `$CANDLEHOME/bin/CandleGetJavaHome`/bin/java $KVM_JVM_ARGS
  com.ibm.tivoli.monitoring.agent.kvm.itm.FactoryInterfaceControll
  er
  2>/dev/null
  
  ---
  Note that this should all be on one line.  Afterwards, restart
  the agent for this to take affect.
  Then, manually delete the old files.
  
  This change will not prevent the files from being created, but
  they should end up being 0 byte files.
  

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  ********
  * USERS AFFECTED: Users running the agent on Linux.
  ****************************************************************
  ********
  * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION:  When the VMware VI agent runs on
  Linux(R),
               the agent creates a log file with the name
               $CANDLEHOME/logs/<hostname>_vm_<timestamp>.log.
  This
               file contains stdout and stderr messages from the
  kvmagent
               executable, as specified in the file
               $CANDLEHOME/logs/vm.env.  This log file increases
  in
               size until the agent is stopped.  This file can
  grow very
               large because the data provider sends messages to
  stderr.
  ****************************************************************
  ********
  * RECOMMENDATION: Apply Interim Fix 6.2.1-TIV-ITM_VMWVI-IF0007.
  ****************************************************************
  ********
  Interim Fix 6.2.1-TIV-ITM_VMWVI-IF0007 resolves the problem by
  redirecting stderr to /dev/null.
  

Problem conclusion

• The fix for this APAR is contained in the following maintenance
  package:
  
              | interim fix | 6.2.1-TIV-ITM_VMWVI-IF0007
  

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

  ITMF VMWARE VI

• Fixed component ID

  5724L92VI

Applicable component levels

• R621 PSY

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