RE: Vary On Sessions

["Andy Nolen-Parkhouse" <aparkhouse@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hector,

This is not normal, so you're right to try and eliminate it.  Below are
some thoughts.

1)  The first thing I would look at is the 'vary on at IPL' parameter of
the device descriptions for the terminal sessions.  If you find that you
have this problem only following an IPL, then this is likely the cause.
Set them to vary on at IPL.

2)  Train your users to exit their sessions with elegance.  Turning
devices off (or powering down a PC) when sessions are not at a signon
screen can generate errors which cause the session to be varied off.

3)  Look at the system values for virtual sessions (QAUTOCFG and
QAUTOVRT).  Make sure that QAUTOVRT has an adequate number of sessions
defined.

4)  Check your history logs for error messages.  When a device goes into
error and gets varied off, it will leave a trail.  Do some detective
work and find out what happened at the user end to generate the error.

5)  It is possible that you have network problems causing sessions to
time out.  This may appear in the log as a power off of the device.

Do any of these thoughts strike you as likely?

Regards,
Andy Nolen-Parkhouse

> -----Original Message-----
> From: midrange-l-admin@midrange.com
[mailto:midrange-l-admin@midrange.com]
> On Behalf Of Hector Sanchez
> Sent: Thursday, June 13, 2002 10:49 AM
> To: midrange-l@midrange.com
> Subject: Vary On Sessions
>
> I am relatively new to the AS400.  I have working here about 1 year
and
> have learned a lot.  Our help desk gets many calls to vary on sessions
for
> individuals.  As a matter of fact, it is the number one reason by far,
> that employees call the help desk for.  We would like to reduce that
> number.  Why do terminals/PCs get varied off to begin with?  And is
there
> a way to reduce or eliminate the number of vary offs?  Any help would
be
> greatly appreciated.
>
> Hector Sanchez
> Programmer
> Driscoll Childrens Hospital
> (361) 694-4176