Use the links provided in this topic to learn about troubleshooting
and problem determination capabilities.
Recording the symptoms of the problem
Depending
on the type of problem you have, whether it be with your application,
your server, or your tools, you might receive a message that indicates
something is wrong. Always record the error message that you see.
As simple as this sounds, error messages sometimes contain codes that
might make more sense as you investigate your problem further. You
might also receive multiple error messages that look similar but have
subtle differences. By recording the details of each one, you can
learn more about where your problem exists.
The
first failure data capture (FFDC) feature instantly collects information
that is generated about events and errors that occur during a product
runtime processing failure.
Recreating the problem
Think back
to what steps you were doing that led you to this problem. Try those
steps again to see if you can easily recreate this problem. If you
have a consistently repeatable test case, you will have an easier
time determining what solutions are necessary.
- How did you first notice the problem?
- Did you do anything different that made you notice the problem?
- Is the process that is causing the problem a new procedure, or
has it worked successfully before?
- If this worked before what has changed? The change can refer to
any type of change made to the system, ranging from adding new hardware
or software, to configuration changes to existing software.
- What was the first symptom of the problem you witnessed? Were
there other symptoms occurring around that point of time?
- Does the same problem occur elsewhere? Is only one machine experiencing
the problem or are multiple machines experiencing the same problem?
- What messages are being generated that could indicate what the
problem is?
Eliminating possible causes
Narrow
the scope of your problem by eliminating components that are not causing
the problem. By using a process of elimination, you can simplify your
problem and avoid wasting time in areas that are not culprits. Consult
the information in this product and other available resources to help
you with your elimination process.
Using diagnostic tools
As a more
advanced task, there are various tools that you can use to analyze
and diagnose problems with your system. To learn how to use these
tools see Diagnosing problems (using diagnosis tools).