IT36807: COPY TO CLOUD OR REPOSITORY SERVERS FAILS WITH ERROR CTGGA0309 CAUSED BY HIGH MEMORY USAGE ON VSNAP SERVER

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• Spectrum Protect Plus job for copying data from vSnap to cloud
  or repository server fails with the following message:
  
  
  CTGGA0309 Copy failed for snapshot <details>. Error:
  TransferError: Transfer failed: The data transfer was cancelled
  because the memory usage on the vSnap server was high which
  could affect the vSnap server stability.
  
  The error indicates that the vSnap memory usage was high even
  though the server has plenty of memory available. The problem
  can be confirmed by looking at the output of the "free" command
  on the vSnap server.
  
  The problem occurs specifically when the vSnap server has more
  than 90% of the memory that remains unused (as seen in
  'available' column of the 'free' command). The vSnap erroneously
  thinks that the 'available' value of memory is in use and it
  aborts the job.
  

Local fix

• Run the following command on the vSnap server to temporarily
  disable the memory checks.
  
  $ vsnap system pref set --name cloudThrottleMemPercent --value
  100
  
  Once the fixed level is applied on the vSnap server, the local
  fix can be reverted by resetting it back to its default value
  using command:
  
  $ vsnap system pref clear --name cloudThrottleMemPercent
  

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  * USERS AFFECTED:                                              *
  * IBM Spectrum Protect Plus level 10.1.8                       *
  ****************************************************************
  * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION:                                         *
  * see ERROR Description                                        *
  ****************************************************************
  * RECOMMENDATION:                                              *
  * Apply the fixing level when available. This problem is       *
  * currently projected to be fixed in IBM Spectrum Protect Plus *
  * level 10.1.8 patch1 and 10.1.9                               *
  * Note that this is subject to change at the discretion of     *
  * IBM.                                                         *
  ****************************************************************
  

Problem conclusion

• Implemented code fixes to correct how the 'available' and 'used'
  memory values are derived during a copy operation. The job now
  behaves as expected and does not throttle or pause itself until
  the used memory reaches the threshold defined by the pref
  cloudThrottleMemPercent.
  

Temporary fix

Comments

APAR Information

• APAR is sysrouted FROM one or more of the following:

• APAR is sysrouted TO one or more of the following:

Fix information

• Fixed component name

  SP PLUS

• Fixed component ID

  5737SPLUS

Applicable component levels