Troubleshooting Guide

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IBM eServer zSeries Troubleshooting Checklist

If you are experiencing problems with your Host On-Demand installation on the zSeries platform, check the following:

  1. Review the steps in the Program Directory. Check the Host On-Demand Web site, http://www.ibm.com/software/webservers/hostondemand/, as the Program Directory is periodically updated on the Web site.
    Note: For more troubleshooting information, check the Hints and Tips section of the Program Directory.
  2.  
  3. For SMP/E installs, make sure that the base product was installed first, then verify that the appropriate hod70mvs.sh script was executed to move and create the directories before the CSD or PTF was installed. Completely install the base product into UNIX System Services via the hod70mvs.sh script, then apply the PTF via the hod70ptf.sh script.
  4. Use the appropriate shell script to install CSDs and ISB (Interim Service Builds). Use hod70ptf.sh for CSD installation according to the ++HOLD information in the PTF associated with the CSD. Use hodxxmvs.aupsh to install the ISBs. Follow the instructions provided with the CSD and ISB found on the service key website.
  5. If you have just applied a PTF, review the ++HOLD information for the PTF.
  6. Check the shell scripts to make sure there are no quotations (") on any of the path statements.
  7. To check the level of Java, issue the following command:
    java -full version 

    Verify the version with the information in the Program Directory.

  8. Verify that the PATH and LIBPATH environment variables have been modified for Java. To verify, enter the following commands:
    echo 'PATH='$PATH
    echo 'LIBPATH='$LIBPATH 

    If you are using Java 1.1.8, also verify that the CLASSPATH variable is set.

  9. Check the NCoDServices.RAS.txt file for errors with the Service Manager. This file can be found in the /private directory. IBM Support may ask for a service manager trace which can be started, stoped and viewed via the Host On-Demand Adminstrator function under the Services option. See the Service Manager Trace help for more information. This will record additional debug information in the NCoDServices.RAS.txt file. The file is located in the ...\hod\hostondemand\private direcotory. The file is recreated with each start of Host On-Demand. It is an ascii file and must be FTPed in binary mode to an ascii machine when you are sending it to IBM Support.
  10. If the problem occurs during the start of the Service Manager, edit the ServiceManager.sh file to change the java command being executed. Add a # in front of the java command being executed and remove the # for the java command after the comment This line is for problem determination and outputs to HOD.stdout in the ...\HOD\ private\ directory. Save a copy of the NCoDServices.RAS.txt, HODstd, STDERR and STDOUT files.
  11. Check the STDERR and STDOUT files if you experience problems when starting or while running the Service Manager.
  12. Customized files from the Deployment Wizard must be uploaded to the host in binary mode to the correct directories with the correct permission bits and correct extensions. Use the DWunzip utility to set up these files. If you have problems with the utility, you can try to move the files manually:
    1. Set the transfer mode to binary and transfer the files to the host.
    2. Put all .html files in the publish directory (../hostondemand/HOD) or the alternate read/write publish directory with .ascii appended to the name.
    3. Create a subdirectory .../HOD/HODData (if it does not already exist) with permission bits of 755.
    4. Create a subdirectory .../HOD/HODData/htmlname with permission bits of 755
    5. Put all remaining files in the htmlname subdirectory with permission bits of 755.
    6. All files named *.txt must be appended with .ascii.
  13. The IBM Support Team may request a copy of the private directory. You can use the pax command to compress all the contents of the private directory. First, cd into the /private directory then issue the following command:
    pax -zvf /tmp/private.pax.Z * 

    The resulting file can then be sent to the Support Team.

  14. When upgrading from Host On-Demand Version 5 or 6 to Version 7, remember to modify the httpd.conf file to change the Pass directives for the .props, .properties and .js files. The names must be changed to include the .ascii extension. If these Pass rules are not changed, the clients will not download because the files cannot be found.
  15. If you are concerned about the OS/400 Proxy server port being opened on the OS/390 Service Manager, it can be disabled in the Host On-Demand Adminstrator by selecting OS/400 Proxy Server in the left frame of the Admintor, then select the No radio button. Then click Apply. The Service Manager will need to be recycled to reflect the change. Port 3470 will no longer be opened.
  16. See the Configuring Host On-Demand on zSeries section in the Planning, Installing and Configuring Host On-Demand guide for help with installing and configuring the Host On-Demand configuration servlet and setting up separate read/write private and publish directories on the zSeries platform.
  17. If you are experiencing printing problems on zSeries, see zSeries printing problems checklist.

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