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Status Submitted
Workspace IBM i
Created by Guest
Created on Aug 8, 2023

Allow conditional service break point in iASP environment

Conditional service breakpoints do not work in an iASP environment. The 'WHEN' clause on a service breakpoint does not work in an iASP envrionment.


We have thousands of jobs and threads servicing tens of thousands of customer connections to our system for ordering our products. When a production issue is reported and we need to debug a specific customer job/thread, it is impossible to identify which of the thousands of jobs is receiving the specific request such that we can debug the program.


Before we went to an iASP machine, we could put a program into debug mode, then add a service breakpoint with a 'when' condition such that we only go into debug mode when that condition is met.


Example:

  1. "STRDBG PROGRAM1"

  2. "SB 842 USER BOB WHEN CUSTOMERNO=12345"

This puts program PROGRAM1 into debug mode and only stops the one job/thread that meets the conditions of user 'BOB' calling the program with input parameter CUSTOMERNO=12345. Thus, even though we have thousands of threads calling the same program, we only halt the one job/thread associated to this specific condition, and all other connection requests then get routed to another available job/thread since our serviced job is now in debug mode and waiting for our input.


However, this 'WHEN' clause is not allowed in an iASP environment. So now, the best we can do is add a service breakpoint in a program on a specific line for a specific user. However, if the job happens to use a generic user like QUSER, and it's a high usage program, we now essentially halt all production threads calling program 'PROGRAM1' with user 'QUSER'...and the volume of customer requests/threads is so high we have no chance that we'll be halting the one specific job/thread we want.


This is a crippling limitation in our ability to debug and triage issues without bringing our entire system to a standstill. We need the 'WHEN' clause for service breakpoints to work in an iASP environment.


Idea priority Urgent
  • Admin
    Carmelita Ruvalcaba Cevallos
    Reply
    |
    Dec 12, 2023

    The CAAC has reviewed this IBM Idea. More information is needed.

    Solution already exists.

    Background: The COMMON Americas Advisory Council (CAAC) members have a broad range of experience in working with small and medium-sized IBM i customers. CAAC has a key role in working with IBM i development to help assess the value and impact of individual IBM Ideas on the broader IBM i community and has therefore reviewed your Idea.

    For more information about CAAC, see www.common.org/caac

    Carmelita Ruvalcaba - CAAC Program Manager


  • Guest
    Reply
    |
    Sep 12, 2023

    Carmelita, great news! IBM was able to build and deploy PTF 5770SS1-SI84337 which resolves this issue(In i7.4). There is an equivalent PTF for i7.5 if needed.

  • Admin
    Carmelita Ruvalcaba Cevallos
    Reply
    |
    Sep 12, 2023

    The CAAC has reviewed this IBM Idea. More information is needed.

    Robert, can you clarify the circumstances in which you experience the problem?

    Background: The COMMON Americas Advisory Council (CAAC) members have a broad range of experience in working with small and medium-sized IBM i customers. CAAC has a key role in working with IBM i development to help assess the value and impact of individual IBM Ideas on the broader IBM i community and has therefore reviewed your Idea.


    For more information about CAAC, see www.common.org/caac


    Carmelita Ruvalcaba - CAAC Program Manager


  • Guest
    Reply
    |
    Aug 11, 2023

    This feature holds immense significance, and we frequently employ it to troubleshoot crucial issues within the production environment.