Intermittent CASD7087 messages followed by CA Symdump for CICS Subtask abends in CICS.

Following a CASD7087 FREESPAN ERROR BEFORE CAPTURE message when attempting to capture a dump, CA Symdump for CICS users may see intermittent subtask abends in INxxCOLD, (where xx=corresponds to the CICS release).   The task may issue messages similar to the following:


+CASD7087 FREESPAN ERROR BEFORE CAPTURE
+CASD6084 SYMDUMP SUBTASK HAS ABENDED AT OFFSET +08FD2.
+CASD6072 SYMDUMP WILL NOT CAPTURE THIS DUMP
+CASD6050 CICS WILL CAPTURE THIS DUMP
IEA995I SYMPTOM DUMP OUTPUT 599
USER COMPLETION CODE=0908
TIME=07.42.27 SEQ=46144 CPU=0000 ASID=00F0
PSW AT TIME OF ERROR 078D1F00 80655FD2 ILC 2 INTC 01
ACTIVE LOAD MODULE ADDRESS=0064D000 OFFSET=00008FD2
NAME=IN64COLD

After which all attempts to capture dumps receive:
+CASD6084 SYMDUMP SUBTASK HAS ABENDED AT OFFSET +?????.

The CASD7087 message indicates possible corruption of the CA Symdump for CICS PROTDMP file.  The U0908 abend is a diagnostic abend issued to aid in discovering the root cause of the problem.    

Take the following steps and contact CA Support.

1. Collect all dumps produced in the timeframe of the occurrence.

2. Make an IDCAMS REPRO copy of the PROTDMP file.

3.  Run an IN25DMPU 'LIST ALL' to check the contents of the file.  If the job receives a return code of 0008, then the file is corrupt and needs to be rebuilt.

4.  Use the IDCAMS REPRO'd copy from step 2 as input to copy the old dumps to the new PROTDMP file.

Refer to message CASD7087 found in the CA InterTest and Symdump for CICS release 10 documentation wiki. 

There is maintenance available for both Symdump for CICS release 9.1 and release 10.0 which addresses potential Symdump abends as well as the PROTDMP file corruption problem.  Although the title of the maintenance does not specifically mention PROTDMP corruption, the description does state that it also addresses potential PROTDMP overlay issues that could result in loss of dumps or file corruption.  In addition to rebuilding the file, you may want to consider applying the maintenance to prevent a recurrence of the problem.  

• For Symdump for CICS release 9.1, apply RO94592.
• For Symdump for CICS release 10.0, apply RO95247 and RO95248.