PI40188: EDGE LOAD BALANCER HTTPS ADVISOR INCORRECTLY ADDS "CONNECTION: KEEP-ALIVE" HEADER

8.0.0.11: WebSphere Application Server V8.0 Fix Pack 11
8.5.5.7: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5 Fix Pack 7
8.5.5.8: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5 Fix Pack 8
8.0.0.12: WebSphere Application Server V8.0 Fix Pack 12
8.5.5.9: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5 Fix Pack 9
8.5.5.10: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5 Fix Pack 10
8.5.5.11: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5 Fix Pack 11
8.0.0.13: WebSphere Application Server V8.0 Fix Pack 13
8.5.5.12: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5 Fix Pack 12
8.0.0.14: WebSphere Application Server V8.0 Fix Pack 14
8.5.5.13: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5 Fix Pack 13
8.0.0.15: WebSphere Application Server V8.0 Fix Pack 15
8.5.5.14: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5 Fix Pack 14
8.5.5.15: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5 Fix Pack 15
8.5.5.17: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5 Fix Pack 17
8.5.5.20: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5.20
8.5.5.18: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5 Fix Pack 18
8.5.5.19: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5 Fix Pack 19
8.5.5.16: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5 Fix Pack 16
8.5.5.21: WebSphere Application Server V8.5.5.21

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• The reset (RST) from the KeepAlive timeout on the IBM HTTP
  server causes the Load balancer to mark down the back end web
  server.
  
  If the connection has been closed, the HTTPS advisor should
  create new connection, and send the request to IBM HTTP
  Server.
  

Local fix

• The customer can increase the KeepAliveTimeout on the HTTP
  Server to work around the problem, however, it may have a
  negative performance effect on the customer's environment.
  

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  * USERS AFFECTED:  IBM WebSphere Application Server Load       *
  *                  Balancer users                              *
  ****************************************************************
  * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: The https advisor sets the Connection   *
  *                      header to Keep-Alive.                   *
  ****************************************************************
  * RECOMMENDATION:                                              *
  ****************************************************************
  The load balancer advisors are used to monitor the health of
  the servers. When using the https advisor, the connection
  header is set to Keep-Alive which is not correct because a new
  connection is opened (and should be opened) each time the
  health of the server is monitored.
  

Problem conclusion

• Modified the connection header to Close instead of Keep-Alive.
  
  Fix levels:
     Load Balancer for ipv4  7.0.0.35
     Load balancer for ipv4 and ipv6 7.0.0.40
     8.0.0.11
     8.5.5.7
  

Temporary fix

Comments

APAR Information

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

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

Fix information

• Fixed component name

  WEBS LOAD BALAN

• Fixed component ID

  5724H8811

Applicable component levels

• R700 PSY

     UP

• R800 PSY

     UP

• R850 PSY

     UP