PM02789: WEBSPHERE PROXY MARKS SERVERS DOWN WHEN 503 ERROR RECEIVED FROM BACKEND

Fixes are available

APAR status

Closed as program error.

Error description

If the backend server reports a 503 error response,
the proxy retry filter will be kicked off and workload
management (wlm) will mark the server down. If the server is
the only server the 503 is returned for all requests. The proxy
will return 503 errors before the problem is resolved.

Local fix

```
N/a
```

Problem summary

****************************************************************
* USERS AFFECTED:  All users of IBM WebSphere Application      *
*                  Server V7.0                                 *
****************************************************************
* PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: Proxy marks servers down when a 503     *
*                      error is received from a back-end       *
*                      server                                  *
****************************************************************
* RECOMMENDATION:                                              *
****************************************************************
When proxy receives a 503 error from the back-end server, the
workload management (wlm) component will mark the server down
for a while. If the server is the only server to serve the
request, more 503 responses might be returned directly from
the proxy server in the mean time for the request. This might
not be the expected behavior for some scenarios.

Problem conclusion

In the fix, a proxy custom property is provided to workaround
the issue:

Property Name: http.disable.retry.on.503.uriprefix
Property Value: a url prefix list seperated by comma

If this custom property is enabled, if the request matches
the url prefix defined in the list, and if the response
returned from the backend server is 503, proxy will not retry
the request. 503 response will be returned directly. The
server will not be marked down.

The fix for this APAR is currently targeted for inclusion in
fix pack 7.0.0.9.  Please refer to the Recommended Updates
page for delivery information:
http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=180&uid=swg27004980

Temporary fix

Comments

APAR Information

APAR number
PM02789
Reported component name
WEBS APP SERV N
Reported component ID
5724H8800
Reported release
700
Status
CLOSED PER
PE
NoPE
HIPER
NoHIPER
Special Attention
NoSpecatt
Submitted date
2009-12-04
Closed date
2010-01-12
Last modified date
2010-01-12

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 APP SERV N
Fixed component ID
5724H8800

Applicable component levels

R700 PSY
UP

[{"Business Unit":{"code":"BU053","label":"Cloud & Data Platform"},"Product":{"code":"SSEQTP","label":"WebSphere Application Server"},"Platform":[{"code":"PF025","label":"Platform Independent"}],"Version":"7.0","Line of Business":{"code":"LOB45","label":"Automation"}}]

Document Information

Modified date:
24 October 2021

Tips

PM02789: WEBSPHERE PROXY MARKS SERVERS DOWN WHEN 503 ERROR RECEIVED FROM BACKEND

Fixes are available

Subscribe

APAR status

Closed as program error.

Error description

Local fix

Problem summary

Problem conclusion

Temporary fix

Comments

APAR Information

APAR number

Reported component name

Reported component ID

Reported release

Status

PE

HIPER

Special Attention

Submitted date

Closed date

Last modified date

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

Fixed component ID

Applicable component levels

R700 PSY

Document Information

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