PK20639: CONNECTION_CLOSED WHEN CICS ATTEMPTS TO REUSE A SOCKET THAT THE REMOTE SERVER IS ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE, LEADS TO ABENDAWST

Obtain the fix for this APAR.

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• For an outbound HTTP request, the OPTIONS response includes
  'Connection: close'. This indicates that the remote server will
  close the socket connection opened by CICS. However, as the
  OPTIONS response also includes 'HTTP/1.1', DFHWBCL sets flag
  wbo_http11, which causes DFHWBCL to assume that the remote
  server will be using persistent connections.  Rather than close
  this socket and open another one for the actual HTTP request (to
  send the SOAP message), DFHWBCL attempts to reuse the socket
  which the remote server is intending to close.  We get an error
  

Local fix

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  * USERS AFFECTED: All.                                         *
  ****************************************************************
  * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: Outbound HTTP request attempts to use a *
  *                      socket for which the remote server has  *
  *                      closed the connection. The request      *
  *                      fails causing abend AWST.               *
  ****************************************************************
  * RECOMMENDATION:                                              *
  ****************************************************************
  During DFHWBCL OPEN_SESSION processing for an outbound HTTP
  request the HTTP OPTIONS request returns a response which
  includes 'Connection: close'. This signifies that the remote
  server is intending to close the connection which CICS has
  opened. But DFHWBCL goes on to send the actual outbound HTTP
  request using this socket, assuming that the connection is
  persistent because HTTP/1.1 was also included in the options
  response.
  The outbound request therefore fails with CONNECTION_CLOSED.
  The transaction abends AWST if using the SOAP for CICS feature.
  Additional keywords: abendAWST
  

Problem conclusion

• DFHWBCL has been altered to check if the HTTP OPTIONS response
  contains 'Connection: close' and if so to open a new socket to
  send the actual outbound HTTP request.
  

Temporary fix

• FIX AVAILABLE BY PTF ONLY
  

Comments

APAR Information

• APAR is sysrouted FROM one or more of the following:

• APAR is sysrouted TO one or more of the following:

  UK12962

Modules/Macros

•    DESWBCL  DFHWBCL
  

Fix information

• Fixed component name

  CICSTS 3.1 Z/OS

• Fixed component ID

  5655M1500

Applicable component levels

• R400 PSY UK12962

     UP06/03/28 P F603

Fix is available

• Select the PTF appropriate for your component level. You will be required to sign in. Distribution on physical media is not available in all countries.