How to take an SVC dump of IDMS without cancel or abend

Products

• IDMS

Issue/Introduction

Sometimes it is desirable to obtain an SVC dump of an IDMS address space that is misbehaving but not otherwise abending or needing to be cancelled.

Environment

Release: All supported releases.

Resolution

There are two options.

1. z/OS DUMP command
   
   Issue the z/OS DUMP console command:
   
   /DUMP COMM=(IDMS CV SVCDUMP)
   
   The text inside the parentheses above is documentary in nature - it doesn't matter what it is. It is used as the dump title when viewing it in IPCS. z/OS will ask for a response with a message such as this:
   
   id IEE094D SPECIFY OPERAND(S) FOR DUMP COMMAND
   
   id is a reply number. Respond with this:
   
   /R id,JOBNAME=cv-jobname,SDATA=(NUC,SQA,LSQA,SWA,TRT,RGN,LPA,CSA,SUM,ALLNUC,GRSQ)
   
   The values in SDATA will override what is otherwise specified for the dump options as described in IDMS: Recommended dump options and type.
   
   
2. The IDMS LOCKMON utility
   
   There is an undocumented command in LOCKMON that will take an SVC dump of the address space from within IDMS.
   
   snap system
   
   It can also be invoked directly from the ENTER NEXT TASK CODE: prompt.
   
   lockmon snap system
   
   Taking the dump from within IDMS in this manner means that it requires system snaps being enabled (DCMT VARY SNAP SYSTEM ON) and optional bit 176 not being enabled.
   
   

In both cases, the SVC dump will be written to SYS1.DUMPnn datasets or something similar. Check with your System Programmers to confirm this.