Cisco 2950G 24 Software Configuration Guide - Page 577

Chapter 28 Troubleshooting Using the crashinfo File Enabling All-System Diagnostics Beginning in privileged EXEC mode, enter this command to enable all-system diagnostics: Switch# debug all Caution Because debugging output takes priority over other network traffic, and because the debug all privileged EXEC command generates more output than any other debug command, it can severely diminish switch performance or even render it unusable. In virtually all cases, it is best to use more specific debug commands. The no debug all privileged EXEC command disables all diagnostic output. Using the no debug all command is a convenient way to ensure that you have not accidentally left any debug commands enabled. Redirecting Debug and Error Message Output By default, the network server sends the output from debug commands and system error messages to the console. If you use this default, you can use a virtual terminal connection to monitor debug output instead of connecting to the console port. Possible destinations include the console, virtual terminals, internal buffer, and UNIX hosts running a syslog server. The syslog format is compatible with 4.3 Berkeley Standard Distribution (BSD) UNIX and its derivatives. Note Be aware that the debugging destination you use affects system overhead. Logging messages to the console produces very high overhead, whereas logging messages to a virtual terminal produces less overhead. Logging messages to a syslog server produces even less, and logging to an internal buffer produces the least overhead of any method. Using the crashinfo File The crashinfo file saves information that helps Cisco technical support representatives to debug problems that caused the IOS image to fail (crash). The switch writes the crash information to the console at the time of the failure, and the file is created the next time you boot the IOS image after the failure (instead of while the system is failing). The information in the file includes the IOS image name and version that failed, a dump of the processor registers, and a stack trace. You can provide this information to the Cisco technical support representative by using the show tech-support privileged EXEC command. All crashinfo files are kept in this directory on the Flash file system: flash:/crashinfo/crashinfo_n where n is a sequence number. 78-14982-01 Catalyst 2950 Desktop Switch Software Configuration Guide 28-15