How To Fix WZ380 - Sending failed for work item &1: Pipe could not be opened

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: WZ - Workflow: Model objects

• Message number: 380

• Message text: Sending failed for work item &1: Pipe could not be opened

What causes this issue?

An error occurred in the mailing program Sendmail opening a pipe.

System Response

The message was not sent.

How to fix this error?

The system issues an error message and will not allow you to continue with this transaction until the error is resolved.

INCLUDE BWP_ADMINISTRATOR OBJECT DOKU ID TX

Procedure for System Administrators

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message WZ380 - Sending failed for work item &1: Pipe could not be opened ?

  SAP Error Message:
  
  WZ380 Sending failed for work item &1: Pipe could not be opened
  
  Cause
  This error occurs when SAP tries to send a work item (usually in the context of workflow or background processing) through an inter-process communication (IPC) mechanism, specifically a pipe, but fails because the pipe cannot be opened. Pipes are used internally by SAP to communicate between different processes or work processes.
  Common causes include:
  
  Operating system level issues: The pipe resource is not available or cannot be created/opened due to OS restrictions or resource exhaustion.
  Permission problems: The SAP user or process does not have the necessary permissions to create or open the pipe.
  System resource limits: The maximum number of pipes or file descriptors has been reached.
  Incorrect or corrupted SAP kernel or OS configuration: The kernel or OS environment might be misconfigured or corrupted.
  Work process or dispatcher issues: The work process that should receive the pipe communication is not running or is overloaded.
  Network or system instability: If the pipe is related to remote communication, network issues might cause failure.
  
  
  Solution
  
  
  Check system resources:
  
  Verify that the OS has not reached the maximum number of pipes or file descriptors.
  On Unix/Linux, check limits with commands like ulimit -a and increase if necessary.
  Check for any OS-level errors in system logs (/var/log/messages, /var/log/syslog).
  
  
  
  Check permissions:
  
  Ensure the SAP user running the instance has the correct permissions to create and open pipes.
  Verify the ownership and permissions of the SAP directories and temporary files.
  
  
  
  Restart SAP work processes:
  
  Sometimes, restarting the affected work processes or the entire SAP instance can clear stuck pipes or IPC resources.
  Use transaction SM50/SM66 to check the status of work processes.
  
  
  
  Check SAP kernel and patch level:
  
  Ensure the SAP kernel is up to date and compatible with your OS.
  Apply any relevant SAP Notes or patches related to IPC or workflow issues.
  
  
  
  Review workflow and background job configuration:
  
  If this error occurs in workflow, check the workflow runtime environment.
  Use transaction SWI1 or SWIA to analyze workflow logs and errors.
  
  
  
  Check for system or network issues:
  
  If the pipe communication involves remote systems, verify network connectivity and stability.
  
  
  
  SAP Notes and Support:
  
  Search for SAP Notes related to error WZ380 or pipe communication errors.
  Example SAP Note: 000123456 (hypothetical) might address pipe communication issues.
  
  
  
  
  Related Information
  
  
  Transaction Codes:
  
  SM50 - Work Process Overview
  SM66 - Global Work Process Overview
  SWI1 - Workflow Log
  SWIA - Workflow Administration
  
  
  
  SAP Kernel and OS:
  
  Pipes are OS-level IPC mechanisms; ensure OS and SAP kernel compatibility.
  Check SAP kernel logs (dev_w* files) for more detailed error messages.
  
  
  
  Workflow Context:
  
  This error often appears in workflow scenarios where work items are sent between processes.
  Ensure workflow runtime environment is healthy.
  
  
  
  General IPC Troubleshooting:
  
  Check for zombie or stuck processes.
  Verify no resource leaks in SAP processes.
  
  
  
  
  If the problem persists after these checks, consider raising a support ticket with SAP, providing detailed logs and system information.