SAVECORE(8)                                                        SAVECORE(8)



NAME
       savecore - save a core dump of the operating system

SYNOPSIS
       /etc/savecore _d_i_r_n_a_m_e [ _s_y_s_t_e_m ]

DESCRIPTION
       _S_a_v_e_c_o_r_e  is  meant to be called near the end of the /etc/rc file.  Its
       function is to save the core dump of the system (assuming one was made)
       and to write a reboot message in the shutdown log.

       Savecore  checks  the  core  dump to be certain it corresponds with the
       current running unix.  If it does it saves the core image in  the  file
       _d_i_r_n_a_m_e/vmcore.n  and  its  brother, the namelist, _d_i_r_n_a_m_e/vmunix.n The
       trailing ".n" in the pathnames is replaced  by  a  number  which  grows
       every time _s_a_v_e_c_o_r_e is run in that directory.

       Before  savecore  writes  out  a core image, it reads a number from the
       file _d_i_r_n_a_m_e/minfree.  If the number of free kilobytes on the  filesys‐
       tem  which  contains  _d_i_r_n_a_m_e is less than the number obtained from the
       minfree file, the core dump is not saved.  If the minfree file does not
       exist,  savecore  always writes out the core file (assuming that a core
       dump was taken).

       _S_a_v_e_c_o_r_e also logs a reboot message using facility LOG_AUTH  (see  _s_y_s_‐
       _l_o_g(3)) If the system crashed as a result of a panic, _s_a_v_e_c_o_r_e logs the
       panic string too.

       If the core dump was from a system other than /vmunix, the name of that
       system must be supplied as _s_y_s_n_a_m_e.

FILES
       /vmunix        current UNIX

BUGS
       Can be fooled into thinking a core dump is the wrong size.



4th Berkeley Distribution        May 24, 1986                      SAVECORE(8)