z/VM Service: Red Alerts
This page is intended to provide information about potential high-impact items and in some cases prior to the opening of an APAR. Note that when a release level reaches the end of service, we intend to remove the item from the list.
- 20 February 2025
New DNS hostnames and IP addresses must be used to send data to IBM Support by March 10, 2025.
USERS AFFECTED:
All users of Testcase and ECuRep servers for data exchangeDESCRIPTION:
Changes to the DNS hostnames and IP addresses are being made to improve the transfer of data to IBM Support. Data transferred using any of the Previous hostnames and IP addresses will fail or will not be forwarded to IBM support personnel for analysis on or after March 10, 2025.PROBLEM RESOLUTION:
Use the updated hostnames, not the static IP addresses, in all processes or applications you use to transfer data to IBM for support. IBM will use the IP address with the fastest response time. Ensure any firewalls in place are updated to allow connectivity.- Transfers from z/VM using FTPS require the use of the updated hostname ftps.ecurep.ibm.com.
- For details on sending z/VM debugging data to IBM refer to Sending Data to IBM.
- For details on these changes see Changes to data upload for IBM Support....
- For the associated z/OS Red Alert see Red Alert - New DNS hostname and IP addresses used to send data to IBM Support.
- 20 June 2023
Change in package format prevents application of z/VM V7 service ordered through IBM Support
USERS AFFECTED:
Some users of z/VM V7 (all releases)DESCRIPTION:
A change was made to the format of packages obtained from IBM Support that prevents processing by GETSHOPZ and DETERSE.- GETSHOPZ stalls during download or transfer of the service package (at 99% or more) leaving no SERVLINK file.
- DETERSE EXEC does not issue errors, but fails without producing the SERVLINK file.
PROBLEM RESOLUTION:
UPDATE - 24 June 2023: Apply the PTF (7.2 UM90296, 7.3 UM90297) for APAR VM66696 which has been opened for GETSHOPZ, and apply the PTF (7.2 UM90298, 7.3 UM90299) for VM66697 which has been opened for DETERSE to accommodate this packaging change.Product Fulfillment made a change on June 22 that will prevent the invalid packages from being distributed, this will allow the ordering of the above PTFs and other service. Please apply GETSHOPZ and DETERSE PTFs for your z/VM systems to prevent future package ordering issues.
- 14 April 2023
GskNoCiphers errors may occur in z/VM SSL connections including CMS Pipelines and GetShopz.
USERS AFFECTED:
z/VM 7.x users of GetShopz, other users of SSL support in CMS Pipelines, and possibly users with other z/VM SSL connections.DESCRIPTION:
Changes to the SSL configuration of the IBM Shopz download site on March 13, 2023, impacts some users of GETSHOPZ who download service directly from IBM. It shows as a '402' error from VMSSL, or '10402' through CMS Pipelines.FPLTCQ1015E ERRNO 10402: GskNoCiphers
10402 ("GskNoCiphers") The client and server did not find a common cipher to use for the connection.
Since it's a defect in z/VM SSL, it may also affect other use of the SSL support in CMS Pipelines, and it's not limited to the IBM download site either. Whether your system is affected by this may depend on your z/VM SSL configuration.
PROBLEM RESOLUTION:
Apply the PTF for APAR PH50765. To bypass this issue when using GetShopz, download the z/VM service to your workstation using the IBM Shopz site HTTPS or IBM Download Director option, and then use the GetShopz "Workstation Upload" option/tab.
- 19 September 2022
The z/VM 7.3 RAMDISK system will configure less storage than specifiedin the LPAR activation profile during a first level z/VM installation.
USERS AFFECTED:
z/VM 7.3 users who install z/VM 7.3 first level in an LPAR configured with more than 2G initial storage in the LPAR activation profile during z/VM installation.DESCRIPTION:
After a first level installation of z/VM 7.3 is performed, when any system is IPLed in the same LPAR where the installation was performed, users who configure more than 2G initial storage in the LPAR activation profile will observe only 2G of storage configured for their system. The remainder of the initial storage specified in the activation profile, less the 2G already configured, will be added as STANDBY storage to the LPAR. For example, if the LPAR activation profile configures 10G of storage with 100G reserved storage, z/VM will show 2G configured storage with 108G configured as STANDBY.This storage configuration will persist until z/VM (or another guest OS that is IPL'd in the partition) modifies the storage definition, or until the logical partition is de-activated and re-activated.
This behavior is the result of the installation RAMDISK system reconfiguring storage to use only 2G of storage while the installation is being performed, and the rest offline.
PROBLEM RESOLUTION:
There are two options for resolving this problem:- Issue a CP SET STORAGE command specifying a value equivalent to the activation profile value for initial configured storage. For the example described above of 10G initial and 100G reserved storage, the command would be CP SET STORAGE PERM 10G. This command should be issued before the RAMDISK system is shutdown.
- De-activate and re-active the z/VM partition after shutting down the RAMDISK system, but before IPLing a subsequent system.
- 01 July 2021
APAR VM66173 (PTF UM35834) for 4TB REAL MEMORY SUPPORT is in error
USERS AFFECTED:
z/VM 7.2.0 users applying PTF UM35834 for APAR VM66173 4TB REAL MEMORY SUPPORT may experience various guest I/O errors.Note that the PTF for VM66173 was NOT part of the 7202 RSU that shipped March 31, 2021.
DESCRIPTION:
Users running this environment may see I/O error messages on the z/VM OPERATOR's console, such as:- HCPERP602I DASD 30B2 AN INTERFACE CONTROL CHECK OCCURRED
- HCPERP6303I SENSE = INVALID
- HCPERP6304I IRB = 84C24017 16918C50 00020000 0010E480
- HCPERP6305I USERID = BITTEST
- HCPERP2216I CHANNEL PATH ID = 75
- HCPERP2220I PHYSICAL CHANNEL PATH ID = 0214
Messages like these may also be seen:
- HCPERP6312I DASD 3066 AN OPERATION WAS TERMINATED BECAUSE A CHANNEL PROTECTION CHECK OCCURRED
Error messages on z/OS guests may also be seen, such as:
- IOS050I CHANNEL DETECTED ERROR ON 1411,1B,92,**02
- IEA306I 1411,1B, I/O ERROR, 92,0E00,0008,VSMPTS
- IEA011A RESPECIFY ENTIRE IEASYMXX SUFFIX LIST OR U TO BYPASS
The z/VM system does not abend. The likelihood of experiencing these errors is significantly higher in environments running z/OS guests.
PROBLEM RESOLUTION:
Apply PTF UM35556 for APAR VM66289 as soon as possible.
- 22 March 2021
RACF users applying VM66173 (PTF UM35834) will encounter VMSES/E errors - Fixing PTF now available
USERS AFFECTED:
z/VM 7.2 users applying this PTF for 4TB REAL MEMORY SUPPORT will encounter VMSES/E errors if they are using RACF as their External Security Manager.DESCRIPTION:
When applying this PTF, the SERVICE command produces several VMSES/E error messages, including:- VMFAPP2120W Part HCPRPP TXT has service at level VVTRPI which is a higher level than VVTVM. The higher-level ervice may need to be reworked or removed
- VMFSUI2308W Part HCPRPP TXT has a local modification 99999 in version vector VVTRPI which must be reworked prior to building product 7VMCPR20%CP
- VMFSUI1206W Service was not built for product 7VMCPR20%CP because local modifications or customized parts needing rework have been identified for this product
- VMFSUI2760W VMFSUFIN processing incomplete due to local modifications or customized parts
- VMFSRV2310W Program restart file, SERVICE $RESTART, has been created or persists due to local modifications. Rework the local modifications, then restart SERVICE using the command that follows: SERVICE RESTART
- VMFSRV2760W SERVICE processing incomplete due to local modifications or customized parts.
In general, the above messages are intended to alert a system programmer that a local modification needs to be reworked because of intersection with the PTF being applied. In this particular case, the local modification references a part used by IBM RACF, and there is no rework required.
PROBLEM RESOLUTION:
Do the following on the MAINT720 user ID to mark the rework as complete:- Enter the command VMFUPDAT SYSLMOD to display the SYSLMOD Update Panel.
- On the panel, locate the local mod record for the CP part HCPRPP TXT. In the "AC" column for that line, change the code to "C" to indicate the rework for the local mod is COMPLETED.
- Press PF5 to process the SYSLMOD update.
- Restart SERVICE processing by issuing SERVICE RESTART.
UPDATE - June 2021: IBM has provided an update to have VMSES/E automatically handle this scenario without the user needing to perform the steps above. This change to VMSES/E is APAR VM66508 and is available as PTF UM35859.
- July 22, 2020
Linux server fails after Live Guest Relocation (LGR)
USERS AFFECTED:
All z/VM users (any service level) using Live Guest Relocation with old versions of Linux on z13, z14, z15, and LinuxONE servers where SMT-2 is set for z/VM.DESCRIPTION:
Linux levels affected: equal to or older than SLES11, RHEL6, or equivalent. Newer levels of Linux are not affected. Refer to Linux on IBM Z for details on certified Linux levels per Z platform.Users might experience Linux server failure after performing LGR. More current levels of Linux are not exposed to the problem. The cause of the issue occurs during Linux startup when running on an affected machine with SMT-2 active for z/VM. A memory control bit might be improperly cleared by hardware millicode. Later, this bit setting can result in a page of zeros in Linux low storage after LGR. This can result in various failures in Linux depending on the page affected, and the errors do not always surface immediately after relocation.
PROBLEM RESOLUTION:
Contact IBM Service to install the appropriate bundle. Then LOGOFF/LOGON or re-IPL (with CLEAR option) any affected Linux guests before attempting LGR. This will ensure all memory control bits are properly set.CAUTION: If IPL is used instead of LOGOFF/LOGON, the IPL CLEAR option is required (and is NOT the default) to ensure all memory control bits are properly set. IPL commands embedded in restart scripts might not include the required CLEAR option.
Available corrective service levels:
z15: Driver D41C Bundle S25
z14: Driver D36C Bundle S39
z13: Driver D27I Bundle S96
See related alert in Resource Link.
- March 30, 2020
APAR VM66219 (PTF UM35465) for VSwitch Priority Queuing is in error. This can cause hung guests and/or SXA004 abends.
USERS AFFECTED:
z/VM 7.1 users with PTF UM35465 applied.DESCRIPTION:
In rare cases, users might experience hanging guests and/or SXA004 abends when using VSWITCH-related functions.PROBLEM RESOLUTION:
Apply VM66363 (PTF UM35608) as soon as possible. For more information, go to the IBM Security Portal.
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