Here is a script I've cron to run daily at 8:00 am to look for core files and send e-mail if it finds any. The usual procedure for us is to then run "strings" on the core file to see if it was the result of an application or OS fubar, and then escalate to the appropriate phone support.
# pg find_core.ksh
#!/bin/ksh
# 09/05/2001 mjg
# finds core files and sends mail about it
####################################################
set -u
### remove old files ###
ls /tmp/findcore_*|xargs -i rm -f {}
### init variables for new files ###
REPORT=/tmp/findcore_report.$$
ERRORS=/tmp/findcore_errors.$$
### redirect standard error for the duration of the script ###
exec 2>$ERRORS
### date stamp report ###
echo "Process started at "`date` >$REPORT
echo "host system: "`hostname` >>$REPORT
### find core files ###
cd /
CNT=`find / -name "core" -print |xargs -i ls -l {} | tee -a $REPORT|wc -l`
STATUS=$?
if [ $? -gt 0 ]; then
echo "errors during the find: $STATUS " >>$REPORT
echo "Count = $CNT" >>$REPORT
exit 1
else
echo $STATUS >>$REPORT
echo "Count = $CNT" >>$REPORT
fi
echo "\nProcess temp file listings:">>$REPORT
ls -l /tmp/findcore_* >>$REPORT
### mail the results ###
if [ "$CNT" -gt 0 ]; then
mailx -s "core files report" [e-mail addresses here] <$REPORT
fi
exit $?
### end of script ###
HTH
--
Mark
the future will be a lot like now, only later
