Think Out of the Big Box

A bank customer of us was requesting helps to solve a sudden problem dealing with their IBM DWE server. Apparently from certain date onwards, all the processes executed within the DWE console were failed as shown in the following figure:



Interesting because there are few applications running in DWE and some of them already run for more then 2 years without any problems and now all of them failed at once?

Looking at the logs, obviously db2cmd.exe is throwing out a return code of 5 with exception code SQL1042C which means:



And oh shit, what the hell is the meaning of return code 5?

Tried to google, lookup IBM forums, contacted IBM Support and no one can tell me the definition of code 5?

The real fun is almost all other DB2/DWE components are running fine. db2cc, db2hc, db2start, db2stop, db2licm and many others I tried works. It seems like db2cmd.exe being cursed.

I did many other novel investigations. To name a few:

1. Rule out Windows environment variables
- Open up an instance of command prompt, clear off every environment variable.
- Run db2cmd.exe, still failed with the same error message.

2. Rule out Windows registry
- Open up regedit, throw away \HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\IBM and one under Current User(Of course, you backup it first)
- Run db2cmd.exe, still failed with the same error message.

3. Rule out corrupted files #1
- Copy db2cmd.exe and all the necessary dll files from my machine into the server.
- Open up command prompt, and point every thing to my new db2cmd.exe folder
- Run db2cmd.exe, still failed with the same error message.

4. Rule out corrupted files #2
- Reinstall DB2 Admin Client (Same FP)
- Run db2cmd.exe, still failed with the same error message.

5. Rule out corrupted files #3
- Reinstall DB2 everything (Latest FP)
- Run db2cmd.exe, still failed with the same error message.

6. Trace through AD GPO/Windows stuffs
- Use gpmc.msc, gpresult, gpedit.msc and many windows tools
- Trace into event viewers
- Look for suspicious items. Nothing found

7. Diagnosing DB2 #1
- Set DB2TEMPDIR to non-existing folder/folder where current user don't have security right to access/write
- db2cmd.exe normally will throw DB2CMD.EXE -> 0, Access denied message.
- Nope, still DB2CMD.EXE -> 5

8. Diagnosing DB2 #2
- Put DIAGLEVEL to 4, restart db2, run db2cmd.exe
- Nothing useful in db2diag.log

9. Diagnosing DB2 #3
- Use db2trc, turn it on, run db2cmd.exe, turn it off.
- Nothing useful.

10. Diagnosing DB2 #4
- Execute db2setcp and db2clpsetcp independently with success.

11. Diagnosing DB2 #5
- Fooling around using db2set, removing settings, changing value to bogus one and adding things.
- Still Error code 5 with db2cmd.exe

12. Finding what the heck is error code 5
- Open db2cmd.exe with notepad, look for any potential hints. Found a list of API used. Cross check API name with return code 5 using Google.
- Seems like return code 5 is usually associated with Access Denied error.

13. Finale
Google again "db2cmd.exe -> 5" +SQL1042C. Found one related post in a china forum. Apparently the fella who faces the problem is a student who was trying out DB2 for some homeworks or so. No solution from the post either.

Very interesting... What is the connection or similarity between a student machine in china and a production level server machine in Malaysia? Indeed, I found the answer to this question and yes, it solved the problem!

Any idea? :D

My Preciousssssss (Will it be Ruby?)

Ok, here's the question.

Which one of the following is programmer's best friend? (See hints)

a. Ruby
b. Java

Hints:


Java's logo

Ruby's logo


Answer:

Well, it's sort of depends on whether you as a programmer like to drink coffee, especially Java type, or you rather earn more money (by selling Ruby?) and eventually afford to drink more exotic coffee than Java. For me, I think it's no harm to do both things at the same time, and why not. :p

How do you pronounce IT in geek?

Adapted from WhatIs.com

1. While data has at least two alternate meanings, in computer science it's information that has been translated into a form that is more convenient to move or process. How do you pronounce data correctly?
a. "DAH-tuh"
b. "DAY-tuh"

Answer : b


2. If you work with databases, you're sure to come across SQL. But how do you pronounce it?
a. like "sequel" as "SEE-Kwill"
b. "ess cue-ell"
c. A & B

Answer : c


3. Schema derives from a Greek word for "form" or "figure." If you work with relational or object-oriented databases or programming languages, you may be familar with schema as the organization or structure for a database. How do you pronounce it?
a. "SHE-mah"
b. "SKEE-mah"

Answer : b


4. Debian is a popular and freely-available computer operating system that uses the Linux kernel and other program components obtained from the GNU project. How do you pronounce it?
a. "deb-ee-an"
b. "dub-eye-an"

Answer : a


5. The word "cache" comes from the French, though the meaning is quite the same in either language: to store something where it can be easily retrieved for future use. It's also a noun, referring to that store itself. How is "cache" pronounced in common English usage?

a. "catch"
b. "cash"

Answer : b


6. VoIP use has proceeded rapidly over the past few years. Services like Skype and Vonage have attracted millions of users. Cisco products are increasingly being implemented in call centers. How should you be pronouncing it?

a. "voyp"
b. as its acronym, like "vee - oh - eye - pee"
c. A & B

Answer: c


7. If you've used a wide area network (WAN), you've probably encountered the sysop, often a tech-savvy employee who receives a small stipend for trouble-shooting computer-related problems. How do you pronounce sysop?
a. "SIZZ-ope"
b. "SISS-op"

Answer : b


8. Linux was named by Linus Torvalds, who developed the kernel for the operating system at the University of Helsinki in Finland. Linux is everywhere now; adopted by government of Brazil and showing up in "skinny" versions in smartphones and other devices, notably the "$100 laptop." So how do you pronounce the name of the OS correctly?

a. "LIHN-nix"
b. "LIE-nooks"
c. "LEE-nooks"

Answer : a


9. Acronyms are everywhere in information technology - or should we say "IT?" An acronym is an abbreviation of several words in such a way that the abbreviation itself forms a word. Techies love them. BASIC, SIP, HTML, ASP, VoIP, ISP, SaaS, SOA, LILO; the list is goes on and on. We try to help you make sense of them in our daily IT Alphabet Soup trivia questions, but have you stopped to learn how to pronounce acronym itself?
a. "ah-KROH-nihm"
b. "AK-ruh-nihm"

Answer : b


10. In information technology, canonicalization (sometimes spelled canonicalisation) is the process of making something canonical -- that is, in conformance with some specification. To canonicalize (as well as the slightly less tortured variant to canonify) is to ensure that data conforms to canonical rules, and is in an approved format. Canonicalization is also a bit of a tongue twister - how do you pronounce it?

a. "ka-NOH-nihk-uhl-LIE-ZAY-shun"
b. "KA-nahn-nihk-uhl-ih-ZAY-shun"

Answer : b