Spool ESF058 'System Parameter Table Error'

Products

• Spool

Issue/Introduction

Spool ESF058 'System Parameter Table Error' message when starting the main task on a different LPAR from where it was previously executing.

Resolution

The most common cause of this error is the SID global parameter statement in the ESFPARM dataset. If no SID is specified, the default SID is the SMF provided system ID. In case of a MAS/EMAS complex the current SID has to match one of the S1-31 defined SID's from the last cold start.

When Spool is first initialized to run on a system, the SID for that system is obtained and saved in a checkpoint file. To run the Spool started task on a different LPAR that has a different SMF defined SID, the SID of the original system needs to be specified in your ESFPARM dataset. This will allow a Spool WARM start on the new LPAR.
Follow these steps to correct the error message:

1. Change the SID in the ESFPARM dataset to match the SMF SID of the original LPAR where Spool was initially COLD started.
2. Start Spool with a WARM start on the new LPAR.

At this point you will have Spool fully operational on the new LPAR, with the SID of the original LPAR being used, and with all files preserved in the state they were when Spool was last executing on the original LPAR.

To use the SMF provided SID of the new LPAR and retain your current Spool files, follow these steps to run the ESFSPTP backup and restore utility and preserve the files:

1. Run ESFSPTP to BACKUP all Spool files on the current running system.
2. Shutdown Spool on the current running system. In the case of a MAS/EMAS, shut down all Spool regions.
3. Change the SID in the ESFPARM dataset to the SMF defined SID of the new LPAR, or let it default by not specifying an SID.
4. Start Spool with a COLD or FORMAT on the new LPAR.
5. Run ESFSPTP to RESTORE all files to the current running Spool system on the new LPAR.

You will now have Spool fully operational on the new LPAR, with the SID of the new LPAR being used, and with all files preserved in the state they were when Spool was last executing on the original LPAR.

 If the original SMF SID is not needed, and the files are needed to be kept in Spool (or there are none), a COLD or FORMAT start on the new LPAR can be done without making any changes to the ESFPARM dataset. This will allow Spool to update the checkpoint file with the new SMF defined SID.
Please note that a COLD or FORMAT start will result in all files being lost.