Invokable APPC/CPI-C TP May Fail Intermittently with Event 60

ID: Q246794

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft SNA Server, versions 3.0 (all SP), 4.0, 4.0 SP1, 4.0 SP2, 4.0 SP3

SYMPTOMS

An invokable APPC or CPI-C application may fail intermittently. When the failure occurs, an event similar to the following is logged in the Windows NT application log on the SNA Server computer:

Event ID: 60
Source: SNA Server
Description: Failed to invoke APPC TP <TP Name>, sense data = 084C0000

Note: X'084C0000' is an IBM Sense Code that indicates AP_TRANS_PGM_NOT_AVAIL_NO_RETRY.

This problem occurs when an instance of the APPC or CPI-C application stops unexpectedly. In addition, this is most likely to occur if the application issues RECEIVE_ALLOCATE() calls for multiple Transaction Programs (TPs).

If another instance of the application is started after the first one stops, the effect is likely to be that host requests to invoke the application alternates between successful execution and failure.

Note: Event 60s are general errors that are logged when an invokable APPC/CPI-C TP cannot be invoked. Therefore, they result for reasons not related to the problem described here.

CAUSE

The SNA Server DMOD fails to mark all TPs registered by a process (for example APPC or CPI-C application) as inactive when the process stops abnormally. SNA Server may route host ATTACH requests to the TPs that are still marked as active, which results in the problem described above.

RESOLUTION

SNA Server 3.0

A supported fix that corrects this problem is now available from Microsoft, but it has not been fully regression tested and should be applied only to systems experiencing this specific problem.

To resolve this problem, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the fix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information on support costs, please go to the following address on the World Wide Web:

http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/overview/overview.asp

The English version of this fix should have the following file attributes or later:

File name	Date	Time
Snadmod.dll	11/22/99	2:40PM
Snashmem.exe	11/22/99	2:41PM

NOTE: Because of file dependencies, the most recent fix that contains the above files may also contain additional files.

SNA Server 4.0

A supported fix that corrects this problem is now available from Microsoft, but it has not been fully regression tested and should be applied only to systems experiencing this specific problem. If you are not severely affected by this specific problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait for the next Microsoft SNA Server version 4.0 service pack that contains this fix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the fix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information on support costs, please go to the following address on the World Wide Web:

http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/overview/overview.asp

The English version of this fix should have the following file attributes or later:

File name	Date	Time
Snadmod.dll	11/17/99	11:40AM
Snashmem.exe	11/17/99	11:41AM

NOTE: Because of file dependencies, the most recent fix that contains the above files may also contain additional files.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft SNA Server versions 3.0 (all SPs), 4.0, 4.0 SP1, 4.0 SP2, 4.0 SP3.

MORE INFORMATION

After you apply the update, the DMOD searches the service table to locate all TPs that were registered by the process using the Process ID (PID) of the stopped process to ensure that all of the TPs used by that process are marked as no longer in use.

The Snashmem.exe tool used to view an SNA Server or Client service table has also been updated to include the PID and process header information for each service table entry. To see the new information shown by Snashmem.exe, perform the following steps:

Start a command prompt and set the window with the following screen attributes so that the Snashmem.exe utility display does not scroll:
- Screen window size: Width = 80, Height = 50
- Font selection: Font = Raster Fonts, Size = 6x8

Choose OK.

Maximize the command prompt window.

Run Snashmem.exe to display its main screen.

Press S to look at the service table summary.

Use the Up and Down arrow keys to move the pointer to a service table entry. Note: The N and P keys are used to move to the next and previous pages, because the service table contains 1022 entries.

After you select a specific entry, press E to expand the option and show the details for the service table entry.

The following is an example of the new fields that show the PID and process header:
shr->svce[2].srv.Bm.pProcessHdr = 564
shr->svce[2].srv.Bm.Pid = 129
shr->svce[2].srv.NPd.pProcessHdr = 564
shr->svce[2].srv.NPd.Pid = 129

Additional query words:

Keywords : sna3 sna3sp1 sna3sp2 sna3sp3 sna3sp4 sna4 sna4sp1 sna4sp2 sna4sp3
Version : WINDOWS:3.0 (all SP),4.0,4.0 SP1,4.0 SP2,4.0 SP3
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbbug