[Discuss] Server won't boot kernel. initramfs problem?

[abreauj at gmail.com (John Abreau)]

I recall hearing something a few years ago about memtest functionality being added to the Linux kernel. Seems to me that making this functionality visible to something like nagios would be an obvious goal. 



On Feb 24, 2013, at 2:52 AM, Tom Metro <tmetro+blu at gmail.com> wrote:

> Rich Pieri wrote:
>> John Abreau wrote:
>>> Is it possible to test RAM on a live system, rather than having to
>>> boot into memtest86?
>> 
>> A running system has programs like the kernel wired in physical memory.
>> These regions cannot be exercised.
> 
> In theory, assuming there is some free RAM, an in-kernel memory tester
> could move a block of memory, remap its location, and then write and
> compare test patterns in the original location. It could slowly work its
> way through the entire system memory. If designed to minimally impact a
> running system, it might take hours to do a single pass that memtest
> would do in minutes.
> 
> The bigger question is whether anyone will be sufficiently motivated to
> build such a tool. It requires the combination of being sufficiently
> concerned about memory errors and not wanting to pay the premium for ECC
> RAM.
> 
> -Tom
> 
> -- 
> Tom Metro
> Venture Logic, Newton, MA, USA
> "Enterprise solutions through open source."
> Professional Profile: http://tmetro.venturelogic.com/
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