Abstract: A system and method of verifying a dumped memory image following a crash of a computer system that includes physical memory, a system kernel, and a virtual memory system. At least a portion of the system memory, e.g., a page, is locked by pre-allocating the page to the system kernel during initialization of the computer system. The pre-allocated page is then withheld from the virtual memory system so that the pre-allocated page is not classified as swappable memory. The locked page of the memory is then seeded with a signature. Upon detecting the system crash, the seeded page of the memory, including an image of the seeded signature, is dumped to the dump disk. The content and the location of the memory image are then verified by comparing the image of the seeded signature with the signature that was seeded in the locked page of the memory prior to the system crash.

Abstract: A system and method for collecting code coverage information in a computer environment before its file system is available. Upon powering up the computer system, initial and secondary system loaders are loaded, whereupon an OS kernel is brought into system memory. The boot process code of the OS kernel is exercised by a kernel exerciser operable to conduct a plurality of tests. Thereafter, a fatal error operable to crash the computer system is instigated and, pursuant thereto, a dump file is created in a dump process launched by the kernel. After rebooting the computer system, an extractor is utilized to recover the code coverage information relating to the boot process code from the dump file.

Abstract: A system and method for collecting code coverage information relating to a fatal error path in a computer system. A fatal error operable to crash the computer system is instigated pursuant to executing a fatal error test module that exercises the fatal error path code, whose coverage is desired after the file system is rendered unavailable due to the crash. In response, a first dump file is created by the operating system kernel. Thereafter, a second dump process is launched to generate a second dump file which includes coverage information relating to the fatal error path code. After rebooting the computer system, an extractor is utilized to recover the code coverage information from the second dump file.

Abstract: A system and method of verifying a dumped memory image following a crash of a computer system that includes physical memory, a system kernel, and a virtual memory system. At least a portion of the system memory, e.g., a page, is locked by pre-allocating the page to the system kernel during initialization of the computer system. The pre-allocated page is then withheld from the virtual memory system so that the pre-allocated page is not classified as swappable memory. The locked page of the memory is then seeded with a signature. Upon detecting the system crash, the seeded page of the memory, including an image of the seeded signature, is dumped to the dump disk. The content and the location of the memory image are then verified by comparing the image of the seeded signature with the signature that was seeded in the locked page of the memory prior to the system crash.