Master common CICS abend codes including ASRA, ASRB, ASRC, AEXZ, AEXS abends, error scenarios, and troubleshooting methodologies for effective problem resolution.
CICS abend codes are standardized error codes that indicate abnormal termination of CICS programs or transactions. Understanding these codes is essential for effective troubleshooting and problem resolution in CICS environments.
By the end of this tutorial, you'll understand common CICS abend codes, their causes, resolution strategies, and troubleshooting methodologies for effectively resolving CICS application errors and system issues.
CICS abend codes are standardized error identifiers that provide information about the type and cause of abnormal program termination. They help developers and system administrators quickly identify and resolve issues in CICS applications.
Think of CICS abend codes like error messages on your computer. When something goes wrong, instead of just saying "Error occurred," it gives you a specific code like "ASRA" or "AEXZ" that tells you exactly what type of problem happened.
Each code is like a different type of problem - ASRA might mean "the program tried to divide by zero," while AEXZ might mean "the system ran out of memory." By knowing what each code means, you can quickly figure out what went wrong and how to fix it.
ASRA, ASRB, and ASRC are program check abends that indicate various types of program logic errors. Understanding these codes and their causes is essential for effective debugging and problem resolution.
ASRA indicates a program check or system error in CICS:
123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627ASRA Abend Information: - Type: Program check - Severity: High - Common Causes: Division by zero, invalid memory access - Resolution: Code review and data validation Common ASRA Causes: 1. Division by zero - Unvalidated divisor values - Missing input validation - Data corruption 2. Invalid memory access - Uninitialized pointers - Buffer overflow - Memory corruption 3. Invalid operations - Invalid instruction execution - Privileged instruction use - System call errors Example ASRA Scenario: PROGRAM: ACCTINQ ERROR: Division by zero at line 150 CAUSE: WS-DIVISOR = 0 RESOLUTION: Add input validation
ASRB provides additional information about program check errors:
123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627ASRB Abend Information: - Type: Program check with additional info - Severity: High - Common Causes: Data validation errors, file access problems - Resolution: Enhanced debugging and validation Common ASRB Causes: 1. Data validation errors - Invalid data formats - Range violations - Type mismatches 2. File access problems - File not found - Permission denied - File corruption 3. Resource allocation issues - Memory allocation failure - Resource exhaustion - Lock contention Example ASRB Scenario: PROGRAM: CUSTVAL ERROR: Invalid data format at line 200 CAUSE: WS-CUSTOMER-ID format error RESOLUTION: Add data format validation
ASRC provides comprehensive error information for complex issues:
123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627ASRC Abend Information: - Type: Program check comprehensive - Severity: High - Common Causes: Complex program logic errors, data corruption - Resolution: Detailed analysis and comprehensive fixes Common ASRC Causes: 1. Complex program logic errors - Nested loop issues - Recursive call problems - Algorithm implementation errors 2. Data corruption - Memory corruption - Data structure damage - Buffer overflow 3. System resource problems - Resource exhaustion - System limits exceeded - Performance degradation Example ASRC Scenario: PROGRAM: COMPLEX ERROR: Stack overflow at line 500 CAUSE: Infinite recursion RESOLUTION: Fix recursive logic
AEXZ and AEXS are exception abends that indicate system-level problems and resource issues. These abends require system-level analysis and resolution strategies.
AEXZ indicates an exception condition in CICS:
123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627AEXZ Abend Information: - Type: Exception condition - Severity: Medium to High - Common Causes: Resource exhaustion, timeout conditions - Resolution: Resource management and system tuning Common AEXZ Causes: 1. Resource exhaustion - Memory allocation failure - File handle exhaustion - Database connection limits 2. Timeout conditions - Transaction timeout - I/O timeout - Database timeout 3. System limits exceeded - Maximum task limit - Maximum file limit - Maximum program limit Example AEXZ Scenario: PROGRAM: BATCH ERROR: Memory allocation failure CAUSE: Insufficient memory available RESOLUTION: Increase memory allocation or optimize usage
AEXS indicates a system exception in CICS:
123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627AEXS Abend Information: - Type: System exception - Severity: High - Common Causes: System-level problems, I/O errors - Resolution: System-level analysis and fixes Common AEXS Causes: 1. System-level problems - Operating system errors - Hardware failures - System resource conflicts 2. I/O errors - Disk I/O failures - Network I/O problems - Device errors 3. System resource conflicts - Memory conflicts - Resource contention - System limits exceeded Example AEXS Scenario: PROGRAM: SYSTEM ERROR: Disk I/O failure CAUSE: Hardware disk error RESOLUTION: Check disk hardware and I/O paths
Effective troubleshooting of CICS abends requires systematic methodologies and proven techniques. Understanding these approaches helps resolve issues quickly and prevent recurrence.
Systematic approach to abend resolution:
12345678910111213141516171819202122232425Troubleshooting Steps: 1. Identify the abend code - Note the specific abend (ASRA, ASRB, etc.) - Record the program name and line number - Capture the error context 2. Analyze the error context - Examine the program code at the error point - Review variable values and data - Check system logs and traces 3. Determine the root cause - Identify the specific error condition - Analyze data flow and program logic - Check for data corruption or validation issues 4. Develop resolution strategy - Plan the fix based on root cause - Consider impact on other programs - Test the solution thoroughly 5. Implement and verify - Apply the fix - Test the resolution - Monitor for recurrence
Proactive measures to prevent abends:
12345678910111213141516171819202122232425Prevention Strategies: 1. Input validation - Validate all input data - Check data ranges and formats - Implement error handling 2. Resource management - Monitor resource usage - Implement proper cleanup - Set appropriate limits 3. Code quality - Follow coding standards - Implement proper error handling - Use defensive programming 4. Testing and monitoring - Comprehensive testing - Regular monitoring - Performance analysis 5. Documentation and training - Document error scenarios - Train staff on troubleshooting - Maintain knowledge base
Understanding common CICS abend codes is essential for effective troubleshooting and problem resolution. Through systematic analysis of ASRA, ASRB, ASRC, AEXZ, AEXS abends and other error codes, developers and system administrators can quickly identify and resolve issues.
The combination of proper error handling, preventive measures, and systematic troubleshooting methodologies provides a comprehensive approach to maintaining reliable CICS applications and minimizing system downtime.