Fixes are available
APAR status
Closed as program error.
Error description
When performing IBM Rational Clearcase operations, the various tools may report "getgrgid_r buffer overflow" when started. This error will generally not block ClearCase operations, but it is possible. This message is caused when either: 1) the user running the clearcase commands is a member of a group containing a very large number of users; or 2) a ClearCase object (element, metadata type, VOB, etc.) is owned by a group containing a very large number of users. For this issue to occur, the group in question needs to contain tens of thousands of users assuming an average user name length of 8 characters. The system call in question returns the full list of group members, by name, in a string buffer. If this list of names cannot fit into a clearcase-supplied buffer, this error occurs. This starts occurring in ClearCase 9.0.1 as the system call used to get group information was changed from getgrgid(), which is not thread-safe because it uses uses a system-managed common buffer for the process, to getgrgid_r(), which is thread save because it requires the calling thread to provide and manage the output buffer. Unfortunately, in some cases, the maximum buffer size used may not be adquate. Note that this is more common in Active-Directory-integrated hosts due to: 1) User names are generally longer: "Robert.Jones" instead of "rjones"; and 2) Default membership in various domain-wide groups, like "Domain Users."
Local fix
Problem summary
**************************************************************** * USERS AFFECTED: * * ClearCase sites with company-wide groups. * **************************************************************** * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: * * ClearCase sites with company-wide groups having thousands of * * long-named users may cause ClearCase core to run out of * * buffer space. * **************************************************************** * RECOMMENDATION: * ****************************************************************
Problem conclusion
A fix is available in ClearCase version 9.0.1.8
Temporary fix
Comments
APAR Information
APAR number
PH10602
Reported component name
CLEARCASE WIN
Reported component ID
5724G2900
Reported release
901
Status
CLOSED PER
PE
NoPE
HIPER
NoHIPER
Special Attention
NoSpecatt / Xsystem
Submitted date
2019-04-04
Closed date
2019-09-23
Last modified date
2019-09-23
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
CLEARCASE WIN
Fixed component ID
5724G2900
Applicable component levels
R901 PSY
UP
[{"Business Unit":{"code":"BU053","label":"Cloud & Data Platform"},"Product":{"code":"SSSH27","label":"Rational ClearCase"},"Platform":[{"code":"PF025","label":"Platform Independent"}],"Version":"901","Line of Business":{"code":"LOB45","label":"Automation"}}]
Document Information
Modified date:
17 October 2021