i5/OS problem handling overview
The i5/OS® licensed program helps you manage problems for both user-detected and system-detected problems that occur on local and remote System i™ platforms.
Problem handling support includes:
- Messages with initial problem handling information
- Automatic alerting of system-detected problems
- Integrated problem logging and tracking
- First failure data capture (FFDC) support
- Electronic customer support service requisition
- Electronic customer support, program temporary fix (PTF) requisition
The i5/OS operating system and its attached devices are able to detect some types of problems. These are called system-detected problems. When a problem is detected, several operations take place:
- An entry in the Product Activity Log is created
- A problem record is created
- A message is sent to the QSYSOPR message queue
Information is recorded in the error log and the problem record. When serious problems are detected, a spooled file of FFDC information is also created. The error log and the problem record might contain the following information:
- Vital product data
- Configuration information
- Reference code
- The name of the associated device
- Additional failure information
User-detected problems are usually related to program errors that can cause any of the following problems to occur:
- Job problems
- Incorrect output
- Messages indicating a program failure
- Device failure not detected by the system
- Poor performance
When a user detects a problem, no information is gathered by the system until problem analysis is run or you select the option to save information to help resolve a problem from the iSeries™ Navigator USERHELP menu.
The i5/OS operating system tracks both user- and system-detected problems using the problem log and problem manager. A problem state is maintained from when a problem is detected (OPENED) to when it is resolved (CLOSED) to help you with tracking.
Parent topic:
Troubleshooting
Related concepts
System and communications problems