VM Service Tips

Updated: April 21, 2025

Documentation, Planning and Ordering Information

  • For information about z/VM installation and installation-related problems, check these links:
    1. z/VM Installation News
    2. z/VM Installation Tips

  • Information on preventive service planning (PSP Buckets) can be found here.

  • Corrective Service Order Tips

    When z/VM corrective service (APAR fix updates, provided via a Product Temporary Fix, or PTF) is ordered for multiple components as part of a single order, the lowest Recommended Service Upgrade (RSU) RSU level that is common to those components must be specified.

    When separate orders are created on a component-by-component basis, specify the applicable component RSU level for each order.

    To determine the RSU level of a given component, use the VMSES/E SERVICE command: 

     service compname status
    where compname is that of a known z/VM component (such as CP or CMS).

    The compname operand also can be specified as ALL, which will display the RSU level for all of the components defined in the VM SYSSUF inventory table.

    To determine if an APAR or PTF of interest is applied to a system, add the APAR or PTF number (for example, vm54321 or um23456) after the STATUS keyword of the SERVICE command, as in this example: 

     service compname status vm54321

    Note:
    For systems that have RSU service installed, it is possible that the APPLIED date reported for a given APAR or PTF can precede its corresponding RECEIVED date, due to the nature of how the z/VM RSU is created.

  • Processing APAR MEMO Files

    For APARs that include a (user) MEMO file, memo information can be found at the bottom of the prodid MEMO file, included as part of the COR service deliverable.

    For an electronic order, the prodid MEMO can be the prodid MEMO file can be found in the VLSTnnnn (or, ordernum) SHIPDOCS file that is supplied as part of the order.

    An example of an APAR MEMO file is available here: VM62480

    For detailed information about how to process the COR service documentation envelope and extract the MEMO file, consult the z/VM: 6.4 Service Guide (GC24-6247) or the z/VM: 7.1 Service Guide (GC24-6325),

    • Chapter 2: Installing preventive or corrective service
    • "Steps to receive, apply and build preventive or corrective service"
    This documentation also discusses use of the VMUPDAT SYSMEMO command to display APAR memos.

VMSES/E Hints and Tips

  • VMSES/E Table Content Errors

    When VMSES/E table content errors have been identified (by the IBM Support group, in conjunction with an active support case), you might be advised to obtain and make use of the SESTBMOD utility to resolve such a problem.

    For example, such content errors have been determined to cause this error during SERVICE command processing used during the z/VM 7.4.0 upgrade process:

    Console messages: 

      ...
  IUG2EX8508I Record: SESCMD BLDNUC SERVICE CP BLDNUC
  IUG2EX8342E Command 'SERVICE CP BLDNUC' failed with RC=100
  ...
    SERVICE ($VMFSRV) $MSGLOG messages: 
      ...
  ST:VMFSRV2760I SERVICE processing completed successfully for CP BUILD
  ...
  CK:VMFSRV1233I The following products have been serviced.
  CK:VMFSRV1233I CP
  ST:VMFUTL2767I Reading VMFINS DEFAULTS B for additional options
  ST:VMFBMP2760I VMFBTMAP processing started
  ST:VMFBMP2760I VMFBTMAP processing started for
  SV:DMSPCL386E Missing operand(s)
  SV:VMFSET2760E VMFSETUP processing completed unsuccessfully (RC=24)
  ...
    To obtain the SESTBMOD utility:
    1. Download a binary copy of the SESTBMOD BIN sample file (Last update: 17 Mar 2025)
    2. Log on to the MAINTvrm user ID for the z/VM release in use

      Note: For z/VM 740 upgrade work, first log off the MIGMAINT user ID, then logon the MAINT740 user ID.

    3. Place a copy of the SESTBMOD BIN file on the MAINTvrm 191 disk through appropriate means (for example, FTP), such that a FIXed-format, LRECL 1024 file is created.
    4. Confirm the 191 disk-resident SESTBMOD BIN file has the correct attributes: 
      listfile sestbmod bin a (isodate
      The listed file should be reported as: 
      FILENAME FILETYPE FM FORMAT LRECL       RECS     BLOCKS     DATE     TIME
SESTBMOD BIN      fm F       1024         nn         nn yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm:ss
      If the BIN file is a FIXed-format, LRECL 80 file, reformat the file accordingly using this CMS PIPELINE command: 
      pipe < sestbmod bin a | fblock 1024 00 | > sestbmod bin a f 1024
      Again, confirm the 191 disk-resident SESTBMOD BIN file has the correct attributes, using the previously used LISTFILE command.
    5. After the subject file has the correct format, copy this file to create a SESTBMOD EXEC file: 
      copyfile sestbmod bin a = exec = (unpack olddate replace
    6. As directed by the IBM Support group, run the SESTBMOD utility with operands and input data that pertains to your support case. In some instances, you might be advised to create an applicable program input file. 

      sestbmod cmd_args

      Make a note of any errors or warnings produced and resolve any problems, in consultation with the IBM Support group.

    For SESTBMOD syntax information, run command: 

    sestbmod ?
    Review the prolog commentary within the utility EXEC file itself for detailed usage information.
  • VMSES/E Messages and Related Considerations

    • VMFSET1419W reported by the SERVICE and PUT2PROD commands

      Instances of these warning messages: 

      WN:VMFSET1419W Cannot establish R/W link to userid1 vdev because userid2 has disk
WN: linked R/W as
      when reported for VMFSETUP actions related to the TCP/IP component (for which a TCP/IP server, such as FTPSERVE, is cited as userid2) now are a normal occurrance when running the SERVICE and PUT2PROD commands. For z/VM levels prior to z/VM 720, these messages were defined as Informational (type I) messages. With z/VM 720 these were changed to Warning (type W) messages so they would not be dismissed for other VMFSETUP situations, when establishment of a write link to a disk is of importance (and the lack of such a link can allow for later error conditions to arise).

      In general, the disks that are being acquired by VMFSETUP are controlled by $PPF file content, but there is no information within that context that VMFSETUP can use to determine if not having a write link to a given disk is satisfactory. Thus, the (warning) messages are issued to raise awareness of the R/O link condition. If a problem does occur because of an acquired R/O disk link, that should be evident via any later Error (type E) messages that are reported by the SERVICE or PUT2PROD commands.

    • Segment-Related Problems

    • MONDCSS Build Failure due to Active Use

      Attempts to rebuild the MONDCSS saved segment using PUT2PROD (whether on an individual basis, or when all segments are rebuilt using a PUT2PROD SEGMENTS ALL command) often fail because one or more virtual machines continue to actively use this segment during service-related tasks. The messages that follow are indicative of this kind of problem: 

       ...
  VMFP2P1965E The command, SEND BLDSEG EXEC VMFBLD PPF SEGBLD
              ESASEGS SEGBLIST MONDCSS.SEGMENT LINK (ALL NOLOG,
              failed with return code 8
  VMFP2P2760I PUT2PROD processing completed unsuccessfully for
              SEGMENTS
  VMFP2P2760I PUT2PROD processing completed unsuccessfully
 ...
      When the MONDCSS segment is rebuilt, the segment cannot be in active use by any users (which, for a system that is actively collecting monitor data would be a normal case). To identify which user IDs are using this segment, use the CP QUERY command that follows: 
       cp query nss users mondcss
      Note:
      APAR VM65651 introduces changes that identify users of the MONDCSS segment, and which alter how this condition is handled by the PUT2PROD command.

    Miscellanous Service Problems

    • Handling a Missing PTF Requisite During SERVICE Processing

      If the VMSES/E SERVICE command fails due to a missing PTF requisite, use the steps that follow recover from this problem and to allow a SERVICE RESTART to complete.

      Note:
      The example commands that follow are based on the application of service that involves electronic media (that is, a SERVLINK envelope file — service_env_filename).

      • Order the missing requisites that have been identified
      • Log on as the maintenance user ID (MAINTvrm, or its equivalent)
      • Use the commands that follow to receive the PTFs for the missing requisites (contained in a requisite_env_filename SERVLINK file).

        • For these commands, ppfname and compname values that pertain to the affected component(s) must be supplied. Pertinent values can be obtained from a review of the SERVICE command message log ($VMFSRV $MSGLOG). In most instances, the PPF name required will be SERVP2P, and the component name will be that of a known z/VM component (such as CP or CMS).

        If the missing requisite order contains PTFs for more than one component, repeat these commands for each, as needed. 

         vmfsetup ppfname compname ( link
 vmfrec ppf ppfname compname ( env requisite_env_filename
      • With receipt of the missing requisite PTFs complete, restart the SERVICE processing that failed:
        •  service restart service_env_filename

    • PUT2PROD LOADBFS Processing Errors (Associated with TCP/IP)

      • If LOADBFS processing errors are reported by the PUT2PROD (or, TCP2PROD) command for the TCP/IP component, review the information for the LOADBFS Error DTCPRD3038E topic, provided as part of the TCP/IP for z/VM Service Hints and Tips page.

    • Message HCPLMN107E for the 6VMRAC20 651 Minidisk With Application of APAR VM65320 PTF

      • If the following messages are received when the PTF for RACF APAR VM65320 is applied: 

       ...
 VMFSET2204I Linking 6VMRAC20 651 as 651 with link mode MR
 HCPLNM107E 6VMRAC20 0651 not linked; not in CP directory
 VMFSET1965E The command, CP LINK 6VMRAC20 651 651 MR "", failed with
             return code 107
 VMFSET2760I VMFSETUP processing completed unsuccessfully
 VMFSUI1965E The command, VMFSETUP, failed with return code 100 when
             issued with the argument(s): SERVP2P RACFSFS (LINK
             NOPROMPT RETAIN D
 ...
      use the information supplied in the UMEMO section of the $PTFPART file (for the PTF that is associated with this APAR) to resolve this problem. The UMEMO states: 
       ************************************************************
 ****           IMPORTANT CP DIRECTORY CHANGE           *****
 ************************************************************
 The 6VMRAC20 user ID entry in the CP user directory needs to
 have a new MDISK statement for a 651 minidisk added to it with a
 size of 1 cylinder. The 651 disk must be CMS formatted before
 the PTF for this APAR is applied. If the SERVICE command for the
 PTF fails because the 651 minidisk does not exist then you can
 create and format the minidisk and then issue SERVICE RESTART to
 finish the PTF application.
      The VMFSRV2310W message (in the SERVICE command message log, $VMFSRV $MSGLOG) will cite the SERVICE restart command that is necessary to restart SERVICE processing.

    • Message DMSSLG278E Reported by CMS Applications that use SET LANGUAGE

      • If DMSSLG278E Unable to set requested language AMENG; AMENG forced is received during service processing, review the How to handle DMSSLG278E message page for more information and circumventive actions.

    • DMSUPD174W Sequence error IRAQVS MACRO during VMFBLD Processing

      • The following error messages might be received during SERVICE processing, after a system migration has been completed (a migration that has used the VMSES/E MIGRATE command): 

       ...
 WN:DMSUPD174W Sequence error introduced in output file: 00032000 to 00032000
 SV:VMFMLB1965E The command, UPDATE, failed with return code 8 while
 SV:            processing object IRAQVS. It was operating upon file
 SV:            IRAQVS MACRO on 493 (K)
 SV:VMFBLD1851E (1 of 1) VMFBDMLB completed with return code 100. Some
 SV:            objects were not built
 SV:VMFSUI1965E The command, VMFBLD, failed with return code 8 when issued
 SV:            with the argument(s):
 ...
      Check for the presence of an IRAQVS MACRO file on the MAINT 493 minidisk. This file should not exist on this disk. If it is found at this location, delete the file from the MAINT 493 disk and restart the subject PTF application.