Last fall, MCL released its two core software products, Kernel Core Dump and Crash Analyzer, for the Linux operating system. These two programs are key components of MCL's support services. This information is provided via the Kernel Core Dump. Support engineers then use the Crash Analyzer module to piece together what went wrong, determining what processes were running at the time, who was logged in, and what they were doing at the time. Kernel Core Dump and Crash Analyzer are free, open-source applications that can be downloaded from MCL's Web site.
Instructions are also available for installing and using the program.
While MCL customers can receive extensive support and analysis if their Linux systems fail, MCL's goal is to keep systems from crashing in the first place. SST is an Internet-based server support service where MCL engineers monitor designated Linux servers on a customer's network over the Internet. The system uses 128-bit digital certificate technology from VeriSign to securely connect with the monitored servers. Engineers are able to securely tap into the servers and watch for problems such as disk drive and power supply failures and operating system and application problems. Mission Critical Linux of Lowell, Mass., was formed last September.