Reliable Linux Kernel Crash Dump with Micro-Controller Assistance

Explore a robust framework for capturing Linux kernel crash dumps using micro-controller assistance in this 17-minute conference talk from linux.conf.au. Learn about the limitations of traditional kdump mechanisms and discover how the IBM POWER9 processor's satellite processors, particularly the Self-Boot Engine (SBE), can be leveraged to ensure reliable crash dump generation. Delve into the concept, design, and implementation of a system that guarantees capture of both the crashed Linux kernel and OPAL firmware memory states. Understand the process of memory-preserving boot, dump capture, and formatting for analysis with existing tools. Compare this open-source solution to standard kdump, examining its effectiveness in various software failure scenarios. Gain insights into the advantages of this innovative approach and witness a demonstration of its capabilities.