kpanicd(8) manpage

NAME

    kpanicd - Kernel Panic Daemon

SYNOPSIS

    kpanicd [ -d ] [ -h ] [ -i ] [ -n n ] [ -q ] [ -r n ] [ -v ]

DESCRIPTION

    kpanicd is a system daemon which spontaneously generates kernel panics.

OPTIONS

    -d   : Enable debugging mode.  This will generate LOTS of output to stderr.

    -h   : Panic the kernel in such a way that it is "hung tight", requiring
           the system to be powercycled.  Highly hardware dependent.

    -i   : Just simulate and do not actually panic the kernel.

    -n n : Sequentially generate a fixed number of kernel panics.

    -q   : Quiet Panic mode.  Not to be confused with Quiet Riot mode.

    -r n : Generate kernel panics at random intervals of 1 to n seconds

    -v   : Print version number and exit

OVERVIEW

    The functionality of kpanicd has been typically incorporated into 
    multiple other daemons, but this seems to be a poor practice.  In the
    modern Linux kernel a number of core issues must be addressed.

    Incorporating kernel panicing into a separate process offers a 
    cleaner separation of services.

SIGNAL HANDLING

    The kpanicd will respond to any of the standard signals by generating
    a kernel panic, and then exiting gracefully, for selected values of
    "gracefully".

FILES

    None.  In fact, there aren't even filesystems after the panic. Any 
    files would be would be uncleanly closed, anyhow.  Any that remain
    are a figment of a deranged imagination.

ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES

    None.  Well, actually there are a few, but none of them count.

        POSIXLY_CORRECT : force a POSIX standard panic;

        POSIX_ME_HARDER : repeatedly enforce POSIX standard;

        PEDANTIC : include nitpicky error messages that occur during the panic;

BUGS

    The -n option does not seem to reliably generate multiple kernel panics.

    The -r option likewise seems to fail after the first kernel panic.

    The -i option simulates a kernel panic using the running kernel.

STANDARDS COMPLIANCE

    kpanicd: SVID2, SVID3, XPG2, XPG3, XPG4, POSIX.2

SCREENSHOT

   kpanicd: impending doom

AUTHOR

    J. Eveland