Setting Server Core to MiniDump

When it comes to troubleshooting spontaneous reboots on Server Core we need to make sure that we have some sort of memory dump file.

In some cases we saw dump files such as when we were initially dealing with the CLOCK WATCHDOG TIMEOUT (blog post) issue. But that has not been consistent.

So, to set the Server Core installation to create a MiniDump file we do the following:

• wmic RECOVEROS set DebugInfoType = 3

Some further reading:

• TechNet: Configure memory dump files for Server Core installation options of Windows Server 2008
• Step 3
• Microsoft KB 254649: Overview of memory dump file options for Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2
• Microsoft KB 244139: Windows feature lets you generate a memory dump file by using the keyboard

We use the Crash Analyzer for MSDaRT Tool included in the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack to work with the dump files.

Philip Elder
MPECS Inc.
Microsoft Small Business Specialists
Co-Author: SBS 2008 Blueprint Book

*Our original iMac was stolen (previous blog post). We now have a new MacBook Pro courtesy of Vlad Mazek, owner of OWN.