NAME

core − format of memory image file

DESCRIPTION

UNIX writes out a memory image of a terminated process when any of various errors occur.  See signal(2) for the list of reasons; the most common are memory violations, illegal instructions, bus errors, and user-generated quit signals. The memory image is called ‘core’ and is written in the process’s working directory (provided it can be; normal access controls apply).

The maximum size of a core file is limited by vlimit(2).  Files which would be larger than the limit are not created. 

The core file consists of the u. area, which currently consists of 6 pages, beginning with a user structure as given in /usr/include/sys/user.h.  The kernel stack grows from the end of this 6 page region.  The remainder of the core file consists first of the data pages and then the stack pages of the process image. 

In general the debugger adb(1) is sufficient to deal with core images.

SEE ALSO

adb(1), signal(2), vlimit(2)

th Berkeley Distribution