IT29409: PHANTOM SESSIONS ON SERVER WITH VALID SESSION NUMBERS WITHOUT NODE NAME

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• After upgrade Server to v812+ or v718+.  many phantom sessions
  show from server "query session" output.  they have valid
  session numbers but without node name. Such session can be
  triggered from a v718/812+ client, with a running dsmcad without
   a valid configure, for example: the client is not registered on
   server or doesn't have a working dsmcert.kdb.
  .
  L2/customer diagnostics:
  
  "Query session " shows output like:
  
    Sess      Comm.      Sess        Wait       Bytes       Bytes
  Sess        Platform     Client Name
   Number     Method     State        Time        Sent       Recvd
  Type
  1,995,025     SSL        IdleW       11.1       15.0 K
  790     Admin       AIX          35725
  1,995,270     SSL        IdleW       12.6        6.7 K
  402     Admin       AIX          41387
  1,995,328    Tcp/Ip     RecvW       22.8            0
  0     Node
  1,995,445    Tcp/Ip     RecvW       21.2            0
  0     Node
  1,995,450     Tcp/Ip     RecvW       21.0            0
  0     Node
  1,995,480     Tcp/Ip     RecvW       20.0            0
  0     Node
  1,995,679    Tcp/Ip     RecvW       15.3            0
  0     Node
  1,995,776     Tcp/Ip     RecvW       13.9            0
  0     Node
  1,995,891    Tcp/Ip     RecvW       11.8            0
  0     Node
  1,995,962     Tcp/Ip     RecvW       10.8            0
  0     Node
  1,995,991     Tcp/Ip     RecvW      9.9 M            0
  0     Node
  1,996,105     Tcp/Ip     RecvW      7.0 M            0
  0     Node
  1,996,114     Tcp/Ip     RecvW      6.9 M            0
  0     Node
  1,996,126     Tcp/Ip     RecvW      6.3 M            0
  0     Node
  1,996,257     Tcp/Ip     RecvW      4.1 M            0
  0     Node
  1,996,310     Tcp/Ip     RecvW      3.3 M            0
  0     Node
  
  
  Note:
  Many sessions has valid session number, without node name and
  can be in RecvW for a long time
  
  Version /Platform affected.
  .
  Spectrum prorect Client 718+/812+ connecting to v718+/812+
  server
  .
  
  Additional keywords:
  TS001852184  phantom sessions
  

Local fix

• 1: use cancel session to cancel the phantom sessions
  2: to prevent the session from coming in. do:
  -identify the host trigger the phantom session
  choose a time when server is quiet or without other valid node
  sessions.
  use netstat -an |grep server_port_number to help identify the
  target IP address where the sessions come from.
  - after have identified the host IP address,  login to the host,
  stop running dsmcad. Fix issue with the client before restart
  any client session.
  

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  * USERS AFFECTED:                                              *
  * Backup-archive clients v7.1.8, v8.1.2, v8.1.4, v8.1.6,       *
  * v8.1.7 and v8.1.8 running on all platforms.                  *
  ****************************************************************
  * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION:                                         *
  * see ERROR DESCRIPTION                                        *
  ****************************************************************
  * RECOMMENDATION:                                              *
  * This issue is fixed in the backup-archive client version     *
  * 8.1.9 on all platforms.                                      *
  * Note 1: This is subject to change at the discretion of IBM.  *
  ****************************************************************
  

Problem conclusion

• After the fix backup-archive client will not create phantom
  sessions.
  

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