CICS Internal Trace Monitoring System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for monitoring transaction processing in CICS transaction servers face challenges such as data loss due to internal trace buffer overflow, performance overhead from auxiliary trace data sets, and increased CPU and response times from agents, hooks, and exits, which limit real-time access and analysis of transaction data.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that reads CICS internal trace entries directly and reconstructs application lifecycle views by using processing means to store and visualize trace entries, minimizing data loss and performance impact, and allowing for real-time monitoring and analysis without the need for auxiliary trace data sets or additional agents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If CICS auxiliary trace data sets are used to store trace entries, then trace data can be retained after internal trace buffer overflow, but transaction processing performance deteriorates due to additional I/O overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the trace data retrieval function from the traditional auxiliary trace data set mechanism. Instead of writing all trace entries to disk-based auxiliary data sets, the system selectively extracts only the necessary trace entries that are still relevant (not yet expired) and loads them into memory structures, thereby eliminating unnecessary I/O operations while preserving important trace information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the storage medium parameter from disk-based auxiliary trace data sets to memory-based structures. By using in-memory hash tables and linked lists to store trace entries, the system transforms the I/O-intensive operation into a fast memory access operation, significantly improving transaction processing performance while retaining trace data capability.
2Measurement precision
If agents, hooks, and exits are installed to monitor transaction processing, then detailed application events can be captured, but CPU time and response times increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing the expiration times of trace entries when they are first created in the internal trace buffer. This allows the monitoring system to efficiently determine which trace entries are still valid without requiring complex real-time calculations, thereby reducing the processing overhead during transaction execution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates simplified copies of trace entry information in memory structures, storing only the essential fields needed for monitoring (such as expiration time and basic event information). This copying approach avoids the complexity of full trace entry processing while capturing the necessary monitoring data, thus reducing CPU overhead.
3Loss of information
If internal trace buffer size is increased to prevent overflow, then more trace entries can be stored, but memory consumption increases and may impact other CICS operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic trace entry management system where the memory structures automatically adjust their content based on expiration times. Trace entries are dynamically added when created and dynamically removed when they expire, allowing the system to maintain only the necessary trace information in memory at any given time, thus optimizing memory usage while preventing information loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic scanning of the internal trace buffer to identify and retrieve trace entries that are still valid (not expired). This periodic action ensures that only current and relevant trace data is maintained in the monitoring structures, automatically managing memory consumption by removing outdated entries without requiring manual intervention or fixed buffer size increases.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to system and methods for accessing transaction servers to obtain particular information related to the transaction processing. In particular, the system 10 is adapted to interact with the internal trace 14 of the CICS 12 for reading the trace entries generated by CICS 12 during transaction processing and written to the internal trace 14. The system 10 is adapted to interact with the internal trace 14 in such a manner that the performance of the transaction processing being conducted in the CICS is not negatively impacted. In accordance with an arrangement of the invention, there is provided a method (to be described at a later stage) for reading and interpreting the content of the internal trace in a period of time that is less than the period of time needed for an internal trace to become full and wrap losing the trace entries stored therein.