IBM Support

Cookie Size Causes “Size of a request header field exceeds server limit” Error When Accessing IBMLink (www.ibm.com/ibmlink)

Troubleshooting


Problem

You receive the following error message when you try to access IBMLink at www.ibm.com/ibmlink: Bad Request. Your browser sent a request that this server could not understand. Size of a request header field exceeds server limit.

Cause

This error is related to the cookie size. It is usually caused by going to a few other ibm.com sites before going to ibm.com/ibmlink through a hyperlink on a page.

Resolving The Problem

With the deployment of IBMLink V6.3 on 31 May 2009, a fix was incorporated into the code that reduces the cookie size by 50-60%. This should eliminate this problem in most cases.

If the problem still occurs, you can do the following:

  1. Start a new browser session
  2. Cut and paste www.ibm.com/ibmlink into the new browser session

[{"Product":{"code":"SSGMGV","label":"CICS Transaction Server"},"Business Unit":{"code":"BU048","label":"IBM Software"},"Component":"Usability","Platform":[{"code":"PF035","label":"z\/OS"}],"Version":"4.2;4.1;3.2;3.1","Edition":"","Line of Business":{"code":"LOB70","label":"Z TPS"}},{"Product":{"code":"SSFKSJ","label":"WebSphere MQ"},"Business Unit":{"code":"BU048","label":"IBM Software"},"Component":"Usability","Platform":[{"code":"PF035","label":"z\/OS"}],"Version":"","Edition":"","Line of Business":{"code":"LOB77","label":"Automation Platform"}},{"Product":{"code":"SSKM8N","label":"WebSphere Message Broker"},"Business Unit":{"code":"BU048","label":"IBM Software"},"Component":"Usability","Platform":[{"code":"PF035","label":"z\/OS"}],"Version":"","Edition":"","Line of Business":{"code":"LOB77","label":"Automation Platform"}}]

Product Synonym

CICS/TS CICS TS CICS Transaction Server

Document Information

Modified date:
24 August 2026

UID

swg21376396

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