SUP execution mode in NF1018 message not documented

Products

• NetMaster Network Management for TCP/IP

Issue/Introduction

Received the following message on NetMaster SSI region:

NF1018 ANALYZER SUBTASK EXECUTION MODE IS SUP (REQ: BEST)

What does SUP mean? Only modes TASK, ZIIP and BEST are documented in the message help.

Environment

NetMaster 12.2 and above

Cause

zIIP processor currently not defined/unavailable

Resolution

When PAEXMODE=BEST and there is not at least one zIIP processor defined, the Packet Analyser (PA) execution mode falls back to PAEXMODE=SUP, which is a variation of PAEXMODE=TASK.

• With PAEXMODE=TASK, the PA subtask executes task mode in problem state, program key (key 8).
• With PAEXMODE=SUP, the PA subtask executes task mode in supervisor state, program key. While in permanent supervisor state, the PA subtask uses some operating system interfaces that provide slightly better performance. For example, to set timers it uses the SETDIE service and disabled interrupt exits instead of STIMERM.

Note that if PAEXMODE=BEST and one or more zIIP processors are defined, then PAEXMODE=ZIIP will be used, even if all of the defined zIIP processors are offline. In this scenario, the PA will always execute on a general CP, even though PAEXMODE=ZIIP. But if one or more of the defined zIIP processors are brought online, then the PA would be eligible to execute on a zIIP. And that transition would occur without restarting the NetMaster SSI region. 

Additional Information

The above explanation is valid for the NetMaster for TCPIP message:

N11427 EXECUTION MODE (REQ ACTUAL): rrrr aaaa

driven by XM parameter. 

Note also that the following Health Checker messages could be issued:

NMH01117E The region, rrrrrr, is not configured for zIIP exploitation.

NMH01119E The ssss SSI, jobname jjjjjjjj, is not configured for zIIP exploitation.