Debugging Host Server Jobs on iSeries

From Support

If you have a question or seek clarification, please call Technical Support.

Problem:

You want to debug the server job that one of our client products is using. But you don't know what the job will be, since host server jobs are often ended after the client is finished.

Solution:

Use Service Entry Points (SEPs).

This is a new feature of the iSeries that was first made available in V5R2 of the operating system. When you use an SEP, you don't need to know what job will be running your program. This is especially useful for debugging exit programs running in host server jobs, because these jobs often do not exist until needed.

There are several articles that explain how to use SEPs —

1. Debugging RPG IV Programs – The Green-Screen Way
2. Debugging RPG IV Programs - The WDSC Way
3. Service Entry Points Help Simplify CGI Debugging
4. Debugging With WDSC Service Entry Points. This article includes a video showing the WDSC debugger in use.

There is also a Graphical Debugger that comes as part of IBM Toolbox for Java and JTOpen. System i5™ Debugger is the manual for the Graphical Debugger. See the Help text for how to use SEPs with this debugger.

Please contact RJS if you need additional assistance with using Service Entry Points to debug host server jobs.