Wpcollector tool, new in WebSphere Portal 7.0 and 8.0

Wpcollector is a new command line tool that automates the collection of portal logs and configuration files and optionally assists the customer with sending those files to IBM Support, saving valuable time. Using automated log collection early in the PMR life cycle can greatly reduce the number of doc requests that are made by Support. Wpcollector is an excellent tool for those customers that are not able to download and install ISA Lite in their portal environment.

Wpcollector is delivered with WebSphere Portal beginning with the 7.0 release. A significant difference between wpcollector and ISA Lite is that ISA Lite will automatically enable the correct traceString and collect the appropriate files based on the problem type selected in the ISA Lite GUI. Wpcollector, however, does not currently have a mechanism for the user to specify the problem type. Therefore, if tracing is required for the problem, the customer must manually enable traceStrings and recreate the problem PRIOR to running wpcollector. Similarly, because wpcollector consists of only 1 script, it collects all of the files for all of the various problem types each time the tool is run.

To run wpcollector, please follow the steps, below:

• If IBM Support has requested tracing, enable it as instructed by the L2 Support Engineer and then recreate the problem. If no tracing is requested, proceed to the step, below:

• If using Microsoft Windows, Unix/Linux, or IBM i, run the following script from the /PortalServer/bin/ directory to begin the collection:
  
  Windows: wpcollector.bat
  Unix/Linux: wpcollector.sh
  i: wpcollector.sh
  Tip: To specify the option for automatically sending the collection to IBM Support via FTP, use the "pmr" parameter. This will associate the collection with the PMR (Problem Management Record) specified. Be sure to format the number using either periods or commas. For example:
  wpcollector.bat -Dpmr=nnnnn.bbb.ccc (nnnnn=PMR number, bbb=branch, ccc=country code)
  Tip: To specify the option for collecting files for the Deployment Manager profile, use the "dmgr.root" parameter. For example:
  wpcollector.bat -Ddmgr.root=/opt/IBM/WebSphere/profiles/dmgr_profile
• If using IBM z/OS, proceed as follows:
  
  Start the WebSphere Portal Customization Dialog.
  In the Portal configuration panel, select Collect Diagnostics.
  Follow the Customization Dialog instructions for submitting the Collect Diagnostics job (EJPSLOGS).
  Tip: To specify the option for automatically sending the collection to IBM Support via FTP, respond to the "Transmit PMR Data" prompt with "Y" in the ISPF panel as follows:
  Transmit PMR data to IBM .................................: Y
  Tip: To collect data from the Deployment Manager, the only requirement is to submit the job from the system where the Deployment Manager is installed (i.e. so it can access the files). There is no prompt in the ISPF panel for this.
  
  
• If the automatic send/FTP option was not specified, a manual transfer of the collection to IBM will be necessary. Locate the wp.mustgather-.zip file or the -wp.mustgather-.zip file in the <wp_profile_root>/filesForAutoPD/ directory and follow the instructions in "Exchanging information with IBM Technical Support for problem determination" to manually FTP the collection to IBM. If using z/OS, there may be additional z/OS-specific files required, such as WebSphere Portal servant region or controller region joblogs. Wpcollector currently does not collect these files. Your L2 Support Engineer will inform you in the event these files are needed and provide instructions for collecting them. 

Do not underestimate this tool as when raising a PMR it is best to ensure that IBM support have all the information they need.

Happy Trails
Jerome Slinger