---
name: "crashinfo"
section: "8"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["freebsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/crashinfo"
---

# crashinfo(8)

analyze a core dump of the operating system

## NAME

**crashinfo** – analyze a core dump of the operating system

## SYNOPSIS

**crashinfo** \[**-d** *crashdir*\] \[**-n** *dumpnr*\] \[**-k** *kernel*\] \[*core*\]

## DESCRIPTION

The **crashinfo** utility analyzes a core dump saved by [savecore(8)](/savecore/8.md). It generates a text file containing the analysis in the same directory as the core dump. For a given core dump file named *vmcore.XX* the generated text file will be named *core.txt.XX*.

By default, **crashinfo** analyzes the most recent core dump in the core dump directory. A specific core dump may be specified via either the *core* or *dumpnr* arguments. Once **crashinfo** has located a core dump, it analyzes the core dump to determine the exact version of the kernel that generated the core. It then looks for a matching kernel file under each of the subdirectories in */boot*. The location of the kernel file can also be explicitly provided via the *kernel* argument.

Once **crashinfo** has located a core dump and kernel, it uses several utilities to analyze the core including [dmesg(8)](/dmesg/8.md), [fstat(1)](/fstat/1.md), [iostat(8)](/iostat/8.md), [ipcs(1)](/ipcs/1.md), kgdb(1) (*ports/devel/gdb*), [netstat(1)](/netstat/1.md), [nfsstat(1)](/nfsstat/1.md), [ps(1)](/ps/1.md), [pstat(8)](/pstat/8.md), and [vmstat(8)](/vmstat/8.md). Note that kgdb must be installed from the devel/gdb port or gdb package.

The options are as follows:

- **-b**

  Run in batch mode. Write most messages to the *core.txt.XX* file instead of the terminal. This flag is used when **crashinfo** is run during boot.

- **-d** *crashdir*

  Specify an alternate core dump directory. The default crash dump directory is */var/crash*.

- **-n** *dumpnr*

  Use the core dump saved in *vmcore.**dumpnr* instead of the latest core in the core dump directory.

- **-k** *kernel*

  Specify an explicit kernel file.

## SEE ALSO

[textdump(4)](/textdump/4.md), [savecore(8)](/savecore/8.md)

## HISTORY

The **crashinfo** utility appeared in FreeBSD 6.4.