How can I enable a core dump for Linux?

You can enable a core dump to assist MadCap IXIASOFT with troubleshooting.

Description

I would like to enable a core dump to troubleshoot TEXTML Server crashes.

Solution

  1. On the TEXTML Server, in a command window, type the following:
    mkdir -p /var/coredumps/
  2. Type the following:
    chown root:root /var/coredumps/
  3. Type the following:
    chmod 772 /var/coredumps/
  4. For Red Hat version 4:
    1. Type the following:
      echo "kernel.core_pattern = /var/coredumps/core.%u.%e.%p" >> /etc/sysctl.conf
    2. Type the following:
      echo "kernel.suid_dumpable = 2" >> /etc/sysctl.conf
    For Red Hat version 5 and up:
    1. Type the following:
      echo "kernel.core_pattern = /var/coredumps/core.%u.%e.%p" >> /etc/sysctl.conf
    2. Type the following:
      echo "fs.suid_dumpable = 2" >> /etc/sysctl.conf
  5. To activate the change without a reboot of the server, type the following:
    /sbin/sysctl -p
  6. To enable the TEXTML Server to do a core dump, make sure that the file /opt/ixiasoft/textmlserver/%instance_name%/textmlserver4.conf contains an entry coredump true.
  7. If you changed the coredump value from false to true, restart the TEXTML Server for the change to take effect.
  8. To manually generate a core dump as a test, in a command prompt window, type the following:
    dkill -s SIGSEGV $pid
  9. You should have a core file in the folder /var/coredumps. If not, change the value of suid_dumpable to 1.
    Note: This is a less secure method and may authorize other users to read the core file.