NTT Data and VA Linux Announce New Open Source Crash Dump
Function for the Linux Operating System — Announcing the Release of Mini Kernel Dump under the Open Source
policy, a Linux-based Crash Dump Function, one Part of a Joint Fault
Analysis Tool Research Development Project —
[Note: VA Linux is related to OSTG which runs NewsForge.]
Tokyo, Japan — October 13, 2004, — NTT Data Corporation (NTT Data,
JP:9613) and VA Linux Systems Japan K.K. (VA Linux), Japan’s leading
Linux and Open Source solutions provider, as part of a collaborative
Linux fault analysis tool project which began this May, announce
the release of Mini Kernel Dump. The two companies have worked to
develop fault analysis tools based on the analysis of this fault
information. And, through this, today, as part of a joint research
project, announce the release of Mini Kernel Dump function under
the Open Source policy.
* About Mini Kernel Dump
NTT Data and VA Linux announce the release of Mini Kernel Dump,
a crash dump function which automatically sends all internal
information to an external recording device at the moment a fault
occurs on Linux-based systems.
When compared with Unix-based enterprise systems, determining
the cause of a fault on Linux systems has been
considered a major weakness. This tool aims to rectify this weak point.
Current Linux systems offer such fault analysis features as
LKCD *1, netdump *2, and diskdump *3.
However, all of those existing solutions
have a major drawback — they need some Linux device drivers to put
their information out, thus they actually rely on the very Linux
kernel they are running on and monitoring. This makes it extremely
hard to get needed information under tough situations when even the
Linux kernel itself is unstable and unreliable.
Mini Kernel Dump overcomes this difficulty by using another small
Linux kernel dedicated only to get dumped information. Therefore,
Mini Kernel Dump does not depend on the target Linux Kernel.
Besides, Mini Kernel Dump does not require too much modification on
the target Linux kernel, thus the expected cost for introducing Mini
Kernel Dump solution is very low. Also, Mini Kernel Dump should work
under any hardware configuration since no modification for device
drivers is needed.
The current Mini Kernel Dump operates on IA-32. Further plans
will provide compatibility with x86-64 and IA-64.
* Distribution
All Mini Kernel Dump code is licensed by the GNU General
Public License (GPL) and is hosted on SourceForge.net –
the world’s largest Open Source software development website.
The Mini Kernel Dump URL
http://sourceforge.net/projects/mkdump/
The Project URL :
http://mkdump.sourceforge.net/
* Future Developments
This version of the Mini Kernel Dump makes it possible to
accurately define causes at the moment of a crash and to prevent
future occurrences.
Therefore, Mini Kernel Dump assures Linux and OSS-based solutions even
much stronger position in the enterprise market.
In addition to the Mini Kernel Dump, NTT Data and VA Linux,
through joint collaboration, will, from next year onward,
further advance fault analysis tools and work toward the
development of such solutions for Linux.
* Notes on this Release
“The release of Mini Kernel Dump will strengthen the reliability of
Linux-based system greatly, and we are sure that even more adaptation
of Linux-based solutions will be materialized soon in the enterprise
market.” said Tetsuya Ueda, president and CEO at VA Linux. “NTT
Data’s rich experience in building large enterprise systems and VA
Linux’s peerless technological insight into the Linux kernel internals
will bring out the full potential of Linux-based solutions for the
enterprise market.”
* NTT Data’s Involvement with Open Source
NTT Data is now developing Prossione (a tentative name), a new
full-range open source solution including system development using
OSS, maintenance support and middleware support.
One of the results of the joint fault analysis project with VA Linux is
the creation of a tool which is highly responsive to fault
analysis: Linaccident (a tentative name). We are striving to
continue to develop Prossione and provide reliable OSS for our clients.
* About VA Linux System Japan K.K.
Founded in September 2000, VA Linux Systems Japan K.K. (VA Linux),
which has based its operations on the development of Linux and
Open Source, has become one of the premier providers of Linux
kernel, technological, and software solutions in the Japanese
domestic market. From March 2004 onward, VA Linux has been the
recipient of funding from NTT Comware and NTT Data. VA Linux is
currently at the forefront of implementing Linux solutions for
telecommunication and enterprise system markets.
http://www.valinux.co.jp
* About Trademark
Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.
All other brand and product names are trademarks or
registered trademarks of their respective holders.
* Contacts
Mr. Ushida
Open Source Development Center
NTT DATA Corporation
phone: +81-3-5566-9610
Public Relations
VA Linux Systems Japan K.K.
phone: +81-3-3293-5151
fax: +81-3-3293-5152
Email: mktg at valinux.co.jp
*1：LKCD — http://lkcd.sourceforge.net/
*2：netdump — http://www.redhat.com/support/wpapers/redhat/netd
*3：diskdump — http://sourceforge.net/projects/lkdump/“
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