Technical data

Preface

Intended Audience

The OpenVMS VAX System Dump Analyzer Utility Manual is primarily intended

for the system programmer who must investigate the causes of system failures

and debug kernel-mode code, such as a device driver. This programmer should

have some knowledge of OpenVMS data structures to properly interpret the

results of System Dump Analyzer (SDA) commands.

This manual also includes information required by the system manager in order

to maintain the system resources necessary to capture and store system crash

dumps. Those who need to determine the cause of a hung process or improve

system performance can refer to this manual for instructions for using SDA to

analyze a running system.

Document Structure

The OpenVMS VAX System Dump Analyzer Utility Manual contains the following

sections:

Section Description of Contents

SDA Description Includes the following information:

• An introduction to the functions of the System Dump Analyzer

(SDA)

• A description of SDA features

• A discussion of key concepts of SDA

• An illustration of the use of SDA

This section also includes instructions for maintaining the optimal

environment for the analysis of system failures and notes the

requirements for processes invoking SDA.

SDA Usage

Summary

Summarizes how to use SDA, including invoking SDA, exiting from

SDA, and recording the output of an SDA session. It also describes

required privileges.

SDA Qualiﬁers Describes ANALYZE command qualiﬁers that govern the behavior

of SDA: /CRASH_DUMP, /RELEASE, /SYMBOL, and /SYSTEM.

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