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VM66320: DYNAMIC MEMORY DOWNGRADE STALL

A fix is available

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APAR status

  • Closed as program error.

Error description

  • Some memory downgrades can stall and never complete
    

Local fix

Problem summary

  • ****************************************************************
    * USERS AFFECTED: All users of z/VM doing memory downgrades    *
    ****************************************************************
    * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION:                                         *
    ****************************************************************
    * RECOMMENDATION: APPLY PTF                                    *
    ****************************************************************
    A memory downgrade can fail to complete (stall).  This occurs
    because guest pages are allowed to be pinned into reconfigurable
    storage, which will block the reconfigurable zone from being
    vacated for the life of the pin.  These offending pins occur
    because the pin notification bits in the Page Status Table Entry
    (PGSTE) were mismanaged, therefore firmware would do the pin
    without notifying CP of it first, thereby failing to give CP a
    chance to move the guest page to someplace that is safe to pin.
    If this does occur, only the memory downgrade stalls.  The
    system itself remains running and responsive.
    

Problem conclusion

  • Code in HCPPTA was changed to properly set the pin notification
    bits (PGSPN) in conjunction with pages on the Aging List.  Code
    in HCPALF was changed to properly set the pin notification bits
    when stealing a frame from a User Frame Owned list (UFO) that
    isn't changed and has a copy on auxiliary storage (PAGE
    allocation).  Code in HCPHPC was changed to properly set the
    pin notification bits when setting the logically zero bit
    (PGSZBIT) of a guest page.
    

Temporary fix

Comments

APAR Information

  • APAR number

    VM66320

  • Reported component name

    VM CP CP

  • Reported component ID

    568411202

  • Reported release

    720

  • Status

    CLOSED PER

  • PE

    NoPE

  • HIPER

    NoHIPER

  • Special Attention

    NoSpecatt / Xsystem

  • Submitted date

    2021-10-19

  • Closed date

    2022-01-04

  • Last modified date

    2022-03-28

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

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

    UM35783

Modules/Macros

  • HCPALF   HCPHPC   HCPPTA
    

Fix information

  • Fixed component name

    VM CP CP

  • Fixed component ID

    568411202

Applicable component levels

  • R720 PSY UM35783

       UP22/01/04 P 2201

Fix is available

  • Select the PTF appropriate for your component level. You will be required to sign in. Distribution on physical media is not available in all countries.

[{"Business Unit":{"code":"BU054","label":"Systems w\/TPS"},"Product":{"code":"SG27M"},"Platform":[{"code":"PF054","label":"z\/OS"}],"Version":"720","Line of Business":{"code":"LOB16","label":"Mainframe HW"}}]

Document Information

Modified date:
29 March 2022