need to read core file

[jedd]

hello everyone
i need help in reading a core file. i have an oracle instance that throws a core file/dump everytime it starts or stops. even if it throws a core file, it starts/stops and runs fine. can somebody help me read the core file??
i'm running HP-UX 11 64 bit. i'm using adb to read the core file, but am not too familiar with the syntax and having problems in reading it.
i will be attaching the core file and hope that somebody can help me with it.
thanks a lot.
my core file sits in /oracle//817_64/dbs/core_<****>/core
can you help me in the proper syntax of the adb, or are there any freeware debugger there that i can use?
again thanks

[S.K. Chan · Accepted solution]

For a quick look at the core file you can use the command 'strings', though not very helpful but you can usually catch an error when you see it.
# strings core
Hopefully you'll get some help from any "adb expert" out there.

[Animesh Chakraborty]

Hi,
You can refer the following discussions:

http://forums.itrc.hp.com/cm/QuestionAnswer/1,,0x00016d96588ad4118fef0090279cd0f9,00.html

[Steve Steel]

Hi


Use file core

# file /*/core
/makepatchbundle/core: core file from 'e' - received SIGSEGV
/tmp/core: core file from 'pax' - received SIGSEGV

This is often a good guide to what is wrong.

adb can wait until this test has been done.


Steve Steel

[MOI_1]

hi
use file core >tmycore
so you can read it also you can use one of the optins with file command like
file -e core
the redirect sign is for the long file so you can read it propably.
thanks.

[Bill McNAMARA_1]

file core
for finding out which process and signal was received

what core
for library information

wdb (hp wildebeest debugger)
for stack trace and debugging
(http://www.hp.com/go/developers)

Later,
Bill

[Trond Haugen]

A program core file is most usefull if you also have the source of the program that produced it and have compiled it with the debug option. Then you can find what line of the program that created the core file. Otherwise the moust you get is the output from 'file core' (on 11.x).
If a system coredumps you'll find the files in /var/adm/crash usefull if you have q4 installed and have some experience with it. You can also get SOME info with adb.

Regards,
Trond

[Steve Steel]

Hi


You certainly have enough choices now


what core
file core
file -c core
adb program core
$C
$Q

The $C will give a stack trace if it is there
and $Q exits.remeber adb has no prompt.

Please post the results if you need more


Steve Steel

[Bill McNAMARA_1]

Yes,
Ctrl D to exit!

(or search formus form "how to exit adb!!)

;)
Later,
Bill

[Paula J Frazer-Campbell]

Bill

I do not know how many "got" your last post.

;^))


Paula

[Steven Gillard_2]

My advice is - don't bother. Corefiles are generally useless unless you have access to the source code.

As it was Oracle there should be a process trace file in the bdump or udump directory that corresponds to the core file. I suggest you gather up all this along with your alert log and take it to Oracle support.

Regards,
Steve

[jedd]

hi all
thanks for the response. i was able to figure the core file out, after pooling all the responses from my post.
that is why i love this forum.
what happened was, after patching oracle from 8.1.7 to 8.1.7.3.0.. there was another patch that needed to be applied to correct the errors that came with 8.1.7.3.0.
again, i do thank everybody for all your help.