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dmesg(ADM)


dmesg -- display the system messages on the console

Syntax

dmesg [ - ]

Description

The dmesg command displays the most recent system message. If the option - (dash) is specified, it displays only those messages generated since the last time the dmesg command was used.

dmesg can be invoked periodically by placing instructions in the file /usr/lib/crontab. It can also be invoked automatically by the /etc/rc2 scripts whenever the system is booted. See ``Limitations'', below.

Limitations

dmesg is included in this release for backwards compatibility only. The device /dev/error provides a more flexible means of logging error messages, and is recommended over dmesg. See error(HW) for more information.

dmesg logs all error messages it prints in /usr/adm/messages. If dmesg is invoked automatically, the messages file continues to grow and can become very large. The system administrator should occasionally erase its contents.

Files

/etc/dmesg
/usr/adm/messages
/usr/adm/msgbuf

See also

cron(C), error(HW)

Standards conformance

dmesg is not part of any currently supported standard; it was developed at the University of California, Berkeley, and is used with permission.
© 2003 Caldera International, Inc. All rights reserved.
SCO OpenServer Release 5.0.7 -- 11 February 2003