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(ZOS) Formatting CTRACE data with an IPCS dialog

We can set up an IPCS dialog to format applications trace data gathered by WebSphere Application Server for z/OS .

Once activated, the WAS for z/OS always writes trace data into memory buffers. The number and size of these buffers is controlled using WebSphere variables. We can get this trace data from a dump, which may be taken by the system or requested by the operator through DUMP or SLIP commands.

To view messages or application trace data from Component Trace, use the interactive problem control system (IPCS) to format the data. The source of the trace data can be a dump data set or a trace data set. When setting up IPCS, the installation may customize IPCS for its users.

IBM recommends providing access to the IPCS dialog through the Profile Management Tool or the zpmt command. If the installation has not customized IPCS as recommended, we need to start the IPCS dialog. See z/OS MVS IPCS User's Guide, SA22-7596 to find out how to start the IPCS dialog.

Perform the following steps to use the IPCS dialog to format application trace data:


Tasks

  1. From the IPCS Primary Option Menu panel, select option 6 ( COMMAND ).

  2. On the IPCS Subcommand Entry panel:

    1. Issue the SETDEF subcommand to determine the default values for routing displays.

    2. Enter the CTRACE command, with the following required parameters: CTRACE COMP( cell_short_name )

      where cell_short_name is the value specified through the Profile Management Tool or the zpmt command to identify the location of server configuration files. The name must be 8 or fewer characters and all uppercase.

      If we are interested in only JRAS data, you enter the following: 

      CTRACE COMP(cell_short_name
)USEREXIT(JRAS)
      Specify additional parameters as necessary.

      Example: To direct trace data to the terminal only, we would append the NOPRINT and TERMINAL parameters to the CTRACE command.

    Tip: For a complete list of CTRACE command parameters, see z/OS MVS IPCS Commands, SA22-7594.

  3. View the application's data, basing the method we choose on which one is appropriate for the location of the data:

    • If we directed output to the IPCS print data set (IPCSPRNT), use the ISPF/PDF Browse option.

    • If we directed output to the terminal, use the Dump Display Reporter panel

    Tips: To navigate through the trace data on the Dump Display Reporter panel, use the commands and PF keys listed in z/OS MVS IPCS User's Guide, SA22-7596.

    CTRACE enables us to view multiple traces together with the trace data from the various sources intermixed based on the time stamp. See z/OS MVS IPCS Commands, SA22-7594, for specifics on using this MERGE subcommand.


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