IT33386: DSMC GENERATES A CORE DUMP ON AIX ON START UP

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• On AIX platform during backup-archive client initialization,
  GSKit makes
  calls that require AES and SHA CPU acceleration to
  be enabled.
  In case AES and SHA CPU acceleration are disabled,
  the client will crash.
  
  
  Customer/Support Diagnostics:
  The
  call stack of the client crash on AIX shows:
  
  (dbx)
  where
  pthread_kill(??, ??) at 0x900000000535f94
  _p_raise(??) at
  0x9000000005357e4
  raise.raise(??) at 0x900000000039368
  abort()
  at 0x900000000055d64
  psunxthr.psTrapHandler(int,int,__sigcontext
  *)() at 0x100062fe0
  .(0x9001000a0c7621c, 0x100, 0x110300630) at
  0x9000000033eb154
  aes_init_key(??, ??, ??, ??) at
  0x9000000033e7d78
  ...
  GSKKM_SetFIPSOn(0x0) at 0x900000001997f0c
  
  GSKitPasswordFile.GSKitPasswordFile::GSKitPasswordFile(const
  clientOptions*)() at
  0x1001f5464
  PasswordFile.new_PasswordFile(const
  clientOptions*)() at
  0x1001f2588
  dsCommonInitRemaining(dsInitInfo*)() at
  0x100375c54
  dsCommonInit(dsInitInfo*)() at
  0x100374ea8
  dscInit(int,char**,cliType_t)() at
  0x100000c94
  dscmain(int,char**)() at 0x100000b24
  main() at
  0x100000928
  
  IBM Spectrum Protect versions affected:
  AIX
  clients on 7.1.8.5 and higher, 8.1.6.1 and higher
  
  Initial
  Impact:
  Medium
  Additional Keywords:
  

Local fix

• If possible enable hardware encryption feature.
  

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  * USERS AFFECTED:                                              *
  * IBM Spectrum Protect client versions 7.1.8.5 till 7.1.8.9    *
  * and 8.1.6.1 till 8.1.10 on AIX platform.                     *
  * Note: starting with these versions, we've distributed GSKit  *
  * 8.0.55.2 version that was initially affected.                *
  ****************************************************************
  * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION:                                         *
  * See ERROR DESCRIPTION.                                       *
  ****************************************************************
  * RECOMMENDATION:                                              *
  * Apply fixing level when available. This problem is projected *
  * to be fixed in levels 7.1.8.10 and  8.1.11. Note that this   *
  * is subject to change at the discretion of IBM.               *
  ****************************************************************
  

Problem conclusion

• Before the fix, dsmc might get a core dump at startup inside the
  GSKit library on AIX LPAR with the processor compatibility mode
  set to Power7 while running on Power 8 underlying hardware.
  After the fix, dsmc will run fine in such an AIX LPAR
  environment.
  

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:

Modules/Macros

• dsmc
  

Fix information

• Fixed component name

  TSM CLIENT

• Fixed component ID

  5698ISMCL

Applicable component levels