Troubleshooting Link3270 server adapters

If you are experiencing a problem with a Link3270 server adapter, read through the following information to find out how to diagnose the problem.

The Link3270 server adapter enables a service requester to access 3270 application programs that are running in CICS using the CICS Link3270 bridge mechanism. If you receive an error message in the range CIA07001E to CIA07999E, or unexpected or incorrect data is being returned when you invoke the Adapter service, you need to capture diagnostic information using the provided utilities and troubleshooting aids. Follow the steps below to collect the necessary information and analyze it to find the cause of the error.
  1. Check the CICS job log for any DFH prefixed error messages. A DFH prefixed message could indicate that there is an underlying problem with the configuration of the CICS region. For example, if you get a DFHBR0501 error message, the Link3270 server adapter has failed because the Link3270 bridge file DFHBRNSF is not defined in your CICS region. This file is required to run any Link3270 server adapter.
  2. Dump the error file DFHMAERF using the provided sample JCL.
    1. Check that the sample module DFHMAEUP is located in the hlq.SCIZSAMP library and has been compiled.
    2. Use the sample JCL job DFHMAMED to dump the error file. The job is also located in the hlq.SCIZSAMP library.
  3. Analyze the dump of the error file to see if this provides you with some indication of what the problem is. See Analyzing the error file dump for what information to look for in the dump.
  4. Enable vector logging for your server adapter. You can either:
    • Set vector logging as an option in the flow usingService Flow Modeler, regenerate the Adapter service and redeploy it.
    • Update the record in the DFHMAMPF properties file for the Link3270 server adapter. To do this, edit the TYPE=5 record in the update job DFHMAMPU, changing the value of PARM08 to 1. Run the update job.
  5. Invoke the Adapter service to capture the flow of data through the Link3270 server adapter. This updates the vector log file.
  6. Dump the vector log file using the provided sample JCL.
    1. Check that the sample module DFHMAVUP is located in the hlq.SCIZSAMP library and has been compiled.
    2. Run the sample JCL job DFHMAMVD. This runs the vector log dump utility DFHMAVUP, which dumps the vector log file. See Link3270 Vector Log file dump JCL (DFHMAMVD) to view the sample JCL.
  7. Analyze the vector log file dump. See Analyzing the vector log file dump for what information to look for in the dump.