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From: Greg Lehey <grog@lemis.de>
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Subject: Re: reboot on panic
In-Reply-To: <Pine.BSI.3.95.961126150204.11164A-100000@buffnet11.buffnet.net> from Steve at "Nov 26, 96 03:03:02 pm"
To: shovey@buffnet.net (Steve)
Date: Wed, 27 Nov 1996 16:29:06 +0100 (MET)
Cc: freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.org
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Steve writes:
>
> Is there any way to get a freebsd box (2.0.5 or higher) to not reboot on a
> panic but to leave the panic on the screena and just hault?

You can install the kernel debugger.  Then it will go into the
debugger instead of rebooting.  Personally, I think this is a pain (I
use the debugger), and I was really glad when somebody found a way to
disable the "feature".

> Im having trouble troubleshooting a machine that refuses to have a problem
> when Im there looking at it.
>
> Any and all suggestions appreciated!

Sure.  Create a directory /var/crash and ensure you have something
like this in your /etc/sysconfig:

   # Set to the name of the device for kernel crashdumps, or `off' to
   # disable any statically configured dumpdev, or NO for no change.
   # The device should normally be one of the swap devices specified
   # in /etc/fstab.
   dumpdev=/dev/wd0s1b

   # Set to YES if you want kernel crashdumps to be saved for debugging
   savecore=YES

You don't need to reboot after making the changes.  Panic will do that
for you :-)

Greg