IBM Support

COLLECTING IBM i OS Level PAL, Rack Configuration List, DSMINFO, and other data

Education


Abstract

This document provides an alternate step-by-step method to gather IBM i OS level PAL, Rack Configuration List and DSMINFO when the QMGTOOLS program cannot be installed.

Content

QMGTOOLS program is not supported on IBMi OS V7R1, for system V7R2 and greater QMGTOOLS is preferred and most efficient way to gather IBM i OS debug data.  Once installed, both IBM i hardware and software support can use data from QMGTOOLS to help resolve issues on your server.  If possible, install and use QMGTOOLS instead of following the steps in this document.
The instructions on this page capture the same data as the following options in QMGTOOLS:

19. Hardware data collection
  2. Collect DASD data

Manually begin collecting the following IBM i OS hardware data.

Before spooling files to print place the print writers on hold
===> HLDWTR
or
===> WRKWTR 3=Hold
Print PAL

 ===> STRSST

image-20190819223237-1

SST user ID QSECOFR and Password (enter the password used for QSECOFR SST access)

image-20190819223347-2

SST System Service Tools (SST) (main menu)

Select Option 1. Start a service tool

image-20190819223724-3

Select Option 1. Product activity log

image-20190819223908-4

Select Option 1. Analyze log

image-20190819224004-5

Enter 1  1=All logs and the From Date/Time that covers the problem (for intermittent problems collect one month of data)

image-20190819224317-6

Report Type: 3. Print options, Informational . . . . . . . Y, Statistic . . . . . . . . . Y

image-20190819224900-7

Report type:  4. Full report, Include hexadecimal data . . . . . . . . Y <enter>

image-20190819225008-8

Printing or spooling operation is complete.

image 11035

A spool file called QPCSMPRT is created.

The QPCSMPRT file will be located later in this document to upload.

F12=Cancel or F3=Exit to SST System Service Tools (SST) (main menu)

Print System Configuration List

SST System Service Tools (SST) (main menu)

Select Option 1. Start a service tool

image-20190819223724-3

Select Option 7. Hardware service manager

image-20190819230009-11

Press F6=Print Configuration (first copy)

image-20190819230252-13

Set Format 1 and Information printed 1

image-20190819230354-14

Press F6=Print Configuration (second copy)

Set Format 1 and Information printed 3

image-20190819230630-15

Two spool files called QPCSMPRT are created.
The QPCSMPRT files are located later in this document to upload.

F12=Cancel or F3=Exit to SST System Service Tools (SST) (main menu)

DSMINFO (storage path information)

SST System Service Tools (SST) (main menu)

  1. Option 1. Start a service tool
  2. Option 4. Display/Alter/Dump
  3. Option 2. Dump to printer
  4. Option 2. Licensed Internal Code (LIC) data
  5. Page Down, Option 14. Advanced analysis
  6. Enter 1 and type DSMINFO (for the command)
image 11036
Type: all on the options line and enter
image-20241119093545-2
On the dump title line put DSMINFO and tab to the through page field and make sure that there are 6 nines, you typically have to add 2.
image 11030
Dump to printer successfully submitted.
image 11039
A spool file called QPCSMPRT is created.
The QPCSMPRT files will be located later in this document to upload.

Press F12=Cancel or F3=Exit until you reach the following Screen

image 11013

Exit System Service Tools
Press Enter to continue ending SST

Collect Hardware Resource List
DSPHDWRSC TYPE(*AHW) OUTPUT(*PRINT)
A spool file called QSYSPRT is created.
Collect PTF information
DSPPTF OUTPUT(*PRINT)
A spool file called QSYSPRT is created.
Collect QHST logs
DSPLOG OUTPUT(*PRINT) F4=Prompt
Changed the following that captures the times the errors occur.
Beginning time . . . . . . . .   *AVAIL    
Beginning date . . . . . . . .   *CURRENT
A spool file called QPDSPLOG is created.
The QPCSMPRT files and others will be located later in this document to upload.
Offload collected data from IBM i server to your workstation
Locate the spool files created above by entering this command WRKSPLF.  Depending how the spool files were created they will be named differently under the file column for example: QSYSPRT, QPCSMPRT or QPDSPLOG. The spool files are not named after the data collected. Use Option 5=Display to display the contents or to confirm the spool file data collected.
image 11041

Use System i Navigator for Windows, Basic Operations -> Printer Output to locate the spooled files. Sort the listing by date if needed. Then right-click on each one and choose "export" to save them as standard text files (not PDF).

How to Use Access Client Solutions to Download a Spool File.

1. Instructions to Un-Mark .PDF file default in ACS

https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/1088494

2. Copying the Text from a Spooled File Using System i Navigator

Go To these sections to drag drop QPCSMPRT files to a folder on your PC :
  • Section titled: Finding a Spooled File in the Basic Operations                                     Printers container within System i Navigator
  • Section titled: Copying the Text of a Spooled File to the PC

Additional Reference:

Managing printer output  > From System i® Navigator, you can find and manage printer output from two locations: basic operations and work management.

https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/i/7.3?topic=output-managing-printer

Upload the exported data files to IBM

If you received an email with these instructions, and the total size of the files collected is less than 20 MB, attach the files in a reply to that email.  Otherwise, use one of the following upload methods:

  1. Enhanced Customer Data Repository (ECuRep):
    Under the Case option, enter your Case Number TSxxxxxxxxx  then continue to select and upload files.
    https://www.secure.ecurep.ibm.com/app/upload_sf

  2. Blue Diamond
    If your company has subscribed to IBM Blue Diamond for enhanced security data submission and handling, you must upload the files to the Blue Diamond secure gateway under case# TSxxxxxxxxx. Data uploaded or sent via any other method will be immediately and automatically deleted upon arrival. Details about how to submit data via Blue Diamond can be found here: https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/666503

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Document Information

Modified date:
23 April 2025

UID

ibm10870748

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