IPS Module Core Dumps

IPS core dumps are different from the system’s kernel core dumps for other modules. When the IPS module’s operating system (OS) unexpectedly resets, it is useful to obtain a copy of the memory image (called a IPS core dump) to identify the cause of the reset. Under that condition, the IPS module sends the core dump to the supervisor module for storage. Cisco MDS switches have two levels of IPS core dumps:

Partial core dumps (default)—Each partial core dump consists of four parts (four files). All four files are saved in the active supervisor module.

Use the show cores command to list these files.

Full core dumps—Each full core dump consists of 75 parts (75 files). The IPS core dumps for the MPS-14/2 module and the Cisco MDS 9216i Switch only contains 38 parts. This dump cannot be saved on the supervisor module because of its large space requirement. They are copied directly to an external TFTP server.

Use the system cores tftp: command to configure an external TFTP server to copy the IPS core dump (and other core dumps).