Checking on System i disk space requires creating a new command: XRTVSYSSTS

Recently we were having an easy afternoon at the IT department, preparing ourselves for the weekend when suddenly our boss started shouting: "We are running out of disk space, we are running out of disk space!".

The problem seemed to be that a process started to loop endlessly, and was filling up a working file. Our manager discovered it by chance by looking at the WRKSYSSTS, and we stopped the process.

We solved the problem and everything went fine, but after that we got the feeling that something like that could happen again at anytime, and we didn't have a tool to protect our iSeries.

The result was that we created this tool by combining two existing commands. It checks the disk space every inter minutes and if it gets mrg % closer to the disk space threshold it will send an email to mail with the msg text and a hard copy of WRKSYSSTS attached to it.

The idea is to submit this command after every IPL, maybe as a scheduled job. Alternatively, add it to the QSTRUP program and it will run as a never ending program (NEP) checking your disk space. You can view the full code for XRTVSYSSTS in PDF.

After compiling the commands and the programs you should be able to schedule a command like the one below, were you can setup how often you want the check to be done, your tolerance percentage, a warning message, and a destination.

This second command, which is invoked by the first one, is the one that sends the mail and the attached hard copy of the WRKSYSSTS.

These commands can be improved in any way you like and besides the fact that they work and can help you in your daily task their main purpose is to be examples of the different possibilities that you have within the iSeries

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Benito Abraham is an analyst programmer at Pride International. He has over 15 years experience on AS/400, including iSeries security and RPG.

Rate this Tip To rate tips, you must be a member of Search400.com. Register now to start rating these tips. Log in if you are already a member. Submit a Tip Digg This!     StumbleUpon     Del.icio.us    RELATED CONTENT iSeries administrator tips Translating Linux for IBM i admins: Using GUI to make it easy Translating Linux for IBM i admins: Working with jobs and networking OpenOffice: What to know before making the transition from Microsoft Office OpenOffice: An enterprise open source solution Database performance comparisons on IBM i Translating Linux for IBM i admins: User profile commands Modern System i reports using Client Access Tips for installing Lotus Domino server on a System i partition The iSeries Blog has a new home on IT Knowledge Exchange Virtualization for IBM i: Backups iSeries system performance and monitoring Translating Linux for IBM i admins: Working with jobs and networking Database performance comparisons on IBM i How to: Monitoring job activity on the AS/400 Performance tuning for IBM i: The basics and beyond How to: Reduce the percentage of ASP used on the AS/400 Detecting system changes made by outside IP address AS/400 system values quiz Drive space management commands Viewing netstat information IBM System i APIs at Work, Second Edition -- Chapter 10 Systems Management Tools Strategies for securing IBM i production files Legacy AS/400 and new IBM i products both featured at COMMON Translating Linux for IBM i admins: User profile commands AS/400 lessons from the past, present, and future: A holiday tale How to: Monitoring job activity on the AS/400 Checking if a local port is used by another job on AS/400 How to: Reduce the percentage of ASP used on the AS/400 Changing BRMS configurations for new naming conventions for i5 AS/400 system values quiz DAYSPAST CLLE program for AS/400: Compares object creation date with today's date RELATED GLOSSARY TERMS Terms from Whatis.com − the technology online dictionary CIW  (Search400.com) RELATED RESOURCES 2020software.com, trial software downloads for accounting software, ERP software, CRM software and business software systems Search Bitpipe.com for the latest white papers and business webcasts Whatis.com, the online computer dictionary DISCLAIMER: Our Tips Exchange is a forum for you to share technical advice and expertise with your peers and to learn from other enterprise IT professionals. TechTarget provides the infrastructure to facilitate this sharing of information. However, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or validity of the material submitted. You agree that your use of the Ask The Expert services and your reliance on any questions, answers, information or other materials received through this Web site is at your own risk.