How do I unshrink a vmcore file


If you run into the problem of being unable to unshrink a vmcore file
and you see this error message

	# unshrink vmcore.8
	unshrink: Error in output: wrote -1 instead of 8192
	unshrink: process_info_block: failed at chunk 256
	unshrink: funshrink: failed at info block 0
	unshrink: Failed on vmcore.8.S

make sure to set the ulimit for filesize to unlimited.  This error is
caused because unshrink is trying to create a file larger than the
default allowable filesize limit.  In ksh and sh changing the filesize
ulimit can be done by typing the following.

	# ulimit -H -f unlimited
	# ulimit -S -f unlimited

This raises the hard limit first then the soft limit.  In csh the
filesize limit can be changed by typing this command.

	# limit filesize unlimited

The following is a full example.

	# unshrink vmcore.8
	unshrink: Error in output: wrote -1 instead of 8192
	unshrink: process_info_block: failed at chunk 358
	unshrink: funshrink: failed at info block 0
	unshrink: Failed on vmcore.8.S
	# ulimit -a
	time(seconds)        unlimited
	file(blocks)         2097152
	data(kbytes)         1048576
	stack(kbytes)        32768
	memory(kbytes)       0
	coredump(blocks)     2097152
	nofiles(descriptors) 64
	vmemory(kbytes)      1048576
	# ulimit -H -f unlimited
	# ulimit -S -f unlimited
	# ulimit -a
	time(seconds)        unlimited
	file(blocks)         unlimited   <------- changed from 2097152
	data(kbytes)         1048576              to unlimited
	stack(kbytes)        32768
	memory(kbytes)       0
	coredump(blocks)     2097152
	nofiles(descriptors) 64
	vmemory(kbytes)      1048576
	# unshrink vmcore.8
	#