DAL and MVS/TSO Server: Troubleshooting Tips

If the login sequence seems to work, but attempts to open tables and retrieve data fails, try these troubleshooting steps.
From the Begin prompt with the DAL Tester or DAL Debugger, enter the command:

describe DBMS;
printall;
go

If DB2 isn't listed as a choice, then something is wrong with the DAL installation on the host. If DB2 is listed as an available DBMS, then try to open it with:

open DB2 DBMS;
go

If the DBMS opens successfully, then try:

describe databases;
printall;
go

A list of available subsystem IDs should appear. If nothing comes back, then the environment file is emplty or inaccessible.

Next, open the desired database and see what's in it with:

open db2 database '_____';
describe tables;
printall;
go

If the only tables listed are not correct, or if a -551 error is returned, see Appendix B of the "Data Access Language Server Installation and Operating Guide for MVS/TSO." Appendix B describes how to set up views for DAL users to access the DB2 tables.
Published Date: Feb 18, 2012