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IBM i 7.6 and 7.5 HTTP Server CGI Programs Fail with MCH3601 After IBM i HTTP Group PTF Apply

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Abstract

After applying the IBM i HTTP Group PTF levels listed below, the IBM i HTTP Server Apache runtime is upgraded to version 2.4.65, which may cause CGI programs to fail with an MCH3601 error similar to the message shown.

MCH3601 Escape 40 QZSRCORE QHTTPSVR *STMT QZSRCORE QHTTPSVR *STMT
From user . . . . . . . . . : QTMHHTP1
From module . . . . . . . . : MOD_CGI
From procedure . . . . . . : cgi_handle_request
Statement . . . . . . . . . : 27

Problematic IBM i HTTP Group PTF Levels
Upgrading Apache to version 2.4.65 results in MCH3601 failures in the following levels:
IBM i 7.6 — SF99962 levels 9 and 10
IBM i 7.5 — SF99952 levels 28 and 29

Problematic individual PTFs included in these group levels:
IBM i 7.6 — SJ09530, superseded by SJ10029
IBM i 7.5 — SJ09477, superseded by SJ10030

Content

If you updated your IBM i 7.6 or 7.5 HTTP Group PTF level to one of the levels listed below and began experiencing issues with IBM HTTP Server CGI applications you will need to remove the defective PTFs.  There is not yet a resolving PTF for the upgraded HTTP Apache version.  The latest group levels do not include these PTFs.
 
Affected IBM i HTTP Group PTF levels causing the issue:
 
IBM i 7.6 - SF99962 levels 9 & 10
IBM i 7.5 - SF99952 levels 28 & 29
 
Example MCH3601 exception seen after upgrading HTTP PTFs:
 

MCH3601 Escape 40 QZSRCORE QHTTPSVR *STMT QZSRCORE QHTTPSVR *STMT
From user . . . . . . . . . : QTMHHTP1
From module . . . . . . . . : MOD_CGI
From procedure . . . . . . : cgi_handle_request
Statement . . . . . . . . . : 27

 
Removing defective PTFs

Update: 7/8/2026
 
The following PTFs have been designated as defective and have been withdrawn from distribution. Accordingly, they have been removed from IBM i 7.6 HTTP Group PTF Level 11 and IBM i 7.5 HTTP Group PTF Level 30.  IBM recommends removing these PTFs permanently using RMVPTF with RMV(*PERM) and DELAYED(*NO) if they have been temporarily applied to your IBM i 7.6 or 7.5 OS.
 
 
Update: 7/7/2026

The IBM i 7.6 SF99962 and IBM i 7.5 SF99952 HTTP Group PTF groups have been updated to levels 11 and 30, respectively, to not include the problematic PTFs. Future orders of the IBM i 7.6 and IBM i 7.5 HTTP Group PTF groups will no longer include these PTFs.

Update: 7/6/2026

IBM i HTTP Server development is investigating the issue and preparing a fix. IBM i Known Issue, DT475474, has been created to document this issue.  Until the resolving PTF is available, use one of the temporary workarounds.
 
Temporary Workarounds
 
Workaround 1:
Leave the group level, but remove the problematic PTF using RMVPTF, provided it is not permanently applied. 

IBM i 7.6 — SJ09530 (superseded by SJ10029)
IBM i 7.5 — SJ09477 (superseded by SJ10030)


1) On the IBM i command line run the following to record your HTTP Server names and then end the QHTTPSVR subsystem:

WRKACTJOB SBS(QHTTPSVR)
Make a note of your HTTP Server instance names so you can identify and restart the appropriate instances after the procedure is complete.
ENDSBS SBS(QHTTPSVR)

2) Run the following commands to remove and delete the Apache 2.4.65 update (note that this is required if you did install the problematic A:

IBM i 7.6
RMVPTF LICPGM(5770DG1) SELECT(SJ10029) RMV(*PERM)

RMVPTF LICPGM(5770DG1) SELECT(SJ09530) RMV(*PERM)

DLTPTF PTF(SJ10029)
DLTPTF PTF(SJ09530)

IBM i 7.5
RMVPTF LICPGM(5770DG1) SELECT(SJ10030) RMV(*PERM)
RMVPTF LICPGM(5770DG1) SELECT(SJ09477) RMV(*PERM)

DLTPTF PTF(SJ10030)
DLTPTF PTF(SJ09477)

3) HTTP servers can be restarted:

STRTCPSVR *HTTP HTTPSVR(*ADMIN)
STRTCPSVR *HTTP HTTPSVR([instance])
STRTCPSVR SERVER(*AUTOSTART)

 

Workaround 2:
Create a backup of your currently installed 5770-DG1 LPP options using SAVLICPGM, then download the IBM-supplied 5770-DG1 save files for IBM i 7.6 and 7.5. After uploading the save files, uninstall the affected 5770-DG1 LPP options using GO LICPGM, Option 12, and then run RSTLICPGM to restore the product to its pre-PTF 5770-DG1 level.

This method is useful when troubleshooting HTTP Server issues that occur after applying HTTP Group PTF updates or individual HTTP PTFs.

1) Before reinstalling your 5770-DG1 LPPs, save all installed HTTP LPP options.

CRTSAVF QGPL/HTTPBASE
CRTSAVF QGPL/HTTPOPT1
 
SAVLICPGM LICPGM(5770DG1) DEV(*SAVF) OPTION(*BASE) SAVF(QGPL/HTTPBASE)
SAVLICPGM LICPGM(5770DG1) DEV(*SAVF) OPTION(1) SAVF(QGPL/HTTPOPT1)
 
2) If you need to roll back or forth, you would simply uninstall the HTTP LPP Option(s) and then restore the HTTP Option(s) at the desired PTF level from your HTTP* save file(s).
 

To roll back to the original Apache level, end all HTTP servers, then restore the saved HTTP LPP options

End all HTTP Servers.
ENDTCPSVR *HTTP HTTPSVR(*ALL)
RSTLICPGM LICPGM(5770DG1) DEV(*SAVF) OPTION(*BASE) SAVF(QGPL/HTTPBASE)
RSTLICPGM LICPGM(5770DG1) DEV(*SAVF) OPTION(1) SAVF(QGPL/HTTPOPT1)

 

To roll forward to the updated Apache level, end all HTTP servers and restore the newer saved options.

End all HTTP Servers.
ENDTCPSVR *HTTP HTTPSVR(*ALL)
RSTLICPGM LICPGM(5770DG1) DEV(*SAVF) OPTION(*BASE) SAVF(QGPL/HTTPBASE_N)
RSTLICPGM LICPGM(5770DG1) DEV(*SAVF) OPTION(1) SAVF(QGPL/HTTPOPT1_N)

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Product Synonym

HTTP;Apache;IHS;IBM HTTP Server

Document Information

Modified date:
14 July 2026

UID

ibm17279155

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