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 mem(FP)                        6 January 1993                        mem(FP)


 Name

    mem, kmem - memory image file

 Description

    The mem file provides access to the computer's physical memory.  All byte
    addresses in the file are interpreted as memory addresses. Thus, memory
    locations can be examined in the same way as individual bytes in a file.
    Note that accessing a nonexistent location causes an error.


    The kmem file is the same as mem except that it corresponds to the kernel
    virtual memory rather than the computer's physical memory.

    In rare cases, the mem and kmem files may be used to write to memory and
    memory-mapped devices. Such patching is not intended for the naive user
    and may lead to a system crash if not conducted properly.  Patching de-
    vice registers can lead to unexpected results if the device has read-only
    or write-only bits.

 Files

    /dev/mem

    /dev/kmem


Typewritten Software • bear@typewritten.org • Edmonds, WA 98026