Knowledge Base

The VMware Knowledge Base provides support solutions, error messages and troubleshooting guides

Search the VMware Knowledge Base (KB)

View by Article ID

Converting a snapshot file to memory dump using the vmss2core tool (2003941)

Symptoms

Cannot run the vmss2core tool
Running the vmss2core tool fails
You see this error in the command line:

Failed to locate memory. Memory block and no separate .vmem file supplied.

Purpose

This article provides steps to convert a snapshot file to a memory dump using vmss2core tool. Developers can use this tool to debug guest operating systems and applications by converting a virtual machine checkpoint into a core dump file. The checkpoint can either be a snapshot or suspend file. You can select a variety of core dump formats that standard debuggers understand.

Resolution

To create the memory dump if the virtual machine is on Workstation 7.x or Fusion 3.x:

Change directory to one of the following locations depending on your installation type:
- Windows – C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Workstation\
- Linux – /usr/bin/
- Mac OS – /Library/Application Support/VMware Fusion/
  
  Note: If vmss2core is not available in these install directories, you can download it here.
Run the vmss2core tool with the option to create a memory dump

vmss2core -W virtual_machine_name.vmss virutal_machine_name.vmem

To create the memory dump if the virtual machine is on an ESX/ESXi host:

Run this command to determine the world ID of the virtual machine:

vm-support -x
Run this command to suspend the virtual machine:

vm-support –Z world_ID

For alternative methods, see Suspending a virtual machine on ESX/ESXi to collect diagnostic information (2005831).
Copy the virtual_machine_name.vmss file to the location where you have the vmss2core tool
Run the vmss2core tool with the option to create a memory dump

vmss2core –W virtual_machine_name.vmss

Additional Information

For additional information, see the Debugging Virtual Machines with the Checkpoint to Core Tool Guide.

Update History

10/08/2012 - Added command to determine the world ID 10/12/2012 - Added link to download vmss2core 03/28/2013 - Added link to article 2005831

Request a Product Feature

To request a new product feature or to provide feedback on a VMware product, please visit the Request a Product Feature page.

Feedback

1 2 3 4 5
2 Ratings

1 2 3 4 5
2 Ratings

Actions

Bookmark Document

KB:

Did this article help you?
This article resolved my issue. This article did not resolve my issue. This article helped but additional information was required to resolve my issue.
What can we do to improve this information? (4000 or fewer characters)