Patent ID: 6202090
Filing Date: 2001-03-13
Classification: G06F,H04L,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for saving an entire core file in a network routing or switching device connected to an external network by an external interface, comprising:monitoring the network device for a shutdown event;conducting a shutdown routine after detecting the shutdown event, the shutdown routine avoiding all unnecessary internal and network operations while copying the entire core file including the values of stack pointers, routine variables, a last operating instruction, values set by the last operating instruction, status register addresses, program counters and any other data stored in a main memory into a local memory internal to the network device and coupled directly to the main memory by a same internal bus that couples the local memory to a central processing unit while avoiding transferring any of the core file through the external interface to the external network and preventing transfer of the core file to any other device not coupled directly to the internal bus or to any device that needs a driver to receive data from the main memory; andstoring the core file that identifies a cause of the shutdown event from the main memory to the local memory before completing the shutdown event, before resetting the network device and without using any external interface or device driver to store the core file.