Diagnose problems using IBM Support Assistant tooling

The IBM Support Assistant (ISA) is a free local software serviceability workbench that helps you resolve questions and problems with IBM software products. Tools for IBM Support Assistant perform numerous functions from memory-heap dump analysis and Java core-dump analysis to enabling remote assistance from IBM Support. All of these tools come with help and usage documentation that allow us to learn about the tools and start using them to analyze and resolve the problems.

The following are samples of the tools available in IBM Support Assistant:

Memory Dump Diagnostic for Java (MDD4J)

The Memory Dump Diagnostic for Java tool analyzes common formats of memory dumps (heap dumps) from the JVM that is running the WAS or any other standalone Java applications. The analysis of memory dumps is targeted towards identifying data structures within the Java heap that might be root causes of memory leaks. The analysis also identifies major contributors to the Java heap footprint of the application and their ownership relationship. The tool is capable of analyzing very large memory dumps obtained from production-environment appservers encountering OutOfMemoryError issues.

IBM Thread and Monitor Dump Analyzer (TMDA)

IBM Thread and Monitor Dump Analyzer (TMDA) provides analysis for Java thread dumps or javacores such as those from WAS. We can analyze thread usage at several different levels, starting with a high-level graphical view and drilling down to a detailed tally of individual threads. If any deadlocks exist in the thread dump, TMDA detects and reports them.

Log Analyzer

Log Analyzer is a GUI that provides a single point of contact for browsing, analyzing, and correlating logs produced by multiple products. In addition to importing log files from multiple products, Log Analyzer enables you to import and select symptom catalogs against which log files can be analyzed and correlated.

IBM Visual Configuration Explorer

The IBM Visual Configuration Explorer provides a way for you to visualize, explore, and analyze configuration information from diverse sources.

IBM Pattern Modeling and Analysis Tool for Java Garbage Collector (PMAT)

The IBM Pattern Modeling and Analysis Tool for Java Garbage Collector (PMAT) parses verbose garbage-collection (GC) trace, analyzes Java heap usage, and recommends key configurations based on pattern modeling of Java heap usage. Only verbose GC traces that are generated from IBM Java Development Kits (JDKs) are supported.

IBM Assist On-site

IBM Assist On-site provides remote desktop capabilities. You run this tool when we are instructed to do so by IBM Support personnel. With this live remote-assistance tool, a member of the IBM Support team can view the desktop and share control of the mouse and keyboard to help you find a solution. The tool can speed up problem determination, data collection, and ultimately the problem solution.

  To install tools for the IBM Support Assistant Workbench on a Windows or Linux Intel operating system, go to the Update menu and select Tool Add-ons. A list of all available tools appears, and we can select the tools that you would like to install.

We can install, update, or remove tools from the IBM Support Assistant Workbench at any time.

 

Related tasks

Use IBM Support Assistant
Enable automated heap dump generation
Diagnose problems (using diagnosis tools)

 

Related information

IBM developer kits: Diagnosis documentation
IBM Software support: IBM Support Assistant (ISA)