Software Diagnostics Library

Do to the attendee limit not all registered for the first session were able to attend. The second session is available:

Date: 23rd of August 2010
Time: 19:00 (BST) 14:00 (Eastern) 11:00 (Pacific)
Duration: 90 minutes

Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/823155577

After the second session webinar slides will be published and later a Q&A page will be compiled.

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -

There are many different approaches to illustrate virtual to physical memory mapping on systems with paging like Windows. Here is another approach that uses natural memory visualization. An image of a user process was generated and juxtaposed to an image of kernel memory dump generated afterwards to produce the combined picture of the full virtual space. Of course, uncommited regions were not included in it as they were not present in user and kernel dumps. Then, after reboot, the same application was launched again and an image of a complete memory dump was generated. Finally, both images were juxtaposed to produce this approximate picture:

In the virtual memory space to the left we see much more granularity. On the contrary, the physical memory space to the right is more uniform and has a different coloring.

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -

Started testing marketing materials to increase Dublin people awareness of memory dump analysis. Here are the first exemplars of what I’m going to wear by the end of this week while commuting and in local pubs

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -

Similar to different C/C++ styles like where to put the right brace we have User/Kernel Space/Mode architecture diagramming styles. Some prefer to put User part on top (Windows Internals team) and some prefer to put Kernel on top (like me). Marc Sherman in the comment here explains the former style as “calling down into the kernel”. Originally I thought about a psychological explanation where you put on top what you value the most or use the most. However, the reason I put Kernel on top is because I value Space over Mode in depicting memory and dependencies. In stack traces from complete memory dumps you have kernel portions on top as well. Also Google and Bing favour “stack grows down” slightly over “stack grows up” and I prefer “down” as well. Additionally, if you value User on top you would be forced to put Managed on top as well. If you put Kernel on top than Managed is at the bottom like on this flag that became a logo of Memory Dump Analysis Services. So here are two diagrams where I prefer the first (Kernel on top) with any stack growing down (in address decrement sense) and any stack trace from WinDbg having Kernel on top too:

The second diagram has any stack growing up:

I also suggest this variant (but people who write and read from right to left may prefer its reflection):

Another diagram style that is consistent with the traditional depiction of Privilege Mode rings (here Kernel is also on top but can be put in any direction):

What style do you favour? Please let me know.

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -

Memory Dump Analysis Services (DumpAnalysis.com) organizes a free webinar

Date: 18th of August 2010
Time: 21:00 (BST) 16:00 (Eastern) 13:00 (Pacific)
Duration: 90 minutes

Topics include:

- User vs. kernel vs. physical (complete) memory space
- Challenges of complete memory dump analysis
- Common WinDbg commands
- Patterns
- Common mistakes
- Fiber bundles
- Hands-on exercise: a complete memory dump analysis
- A guide to DumpAnalysis.org case studies

Prerequisites: working knowledge of basic user process and kernel memory dump analysis or live debugging using WinDbg 

The webinar link will be posted before 18th of August on DumpAnalysis.com

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -

Our future sponsor has been registered in Ireland and has its own independent website and logo: DumpAnalysis.com

More information will be available later this month.

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -

Finally, after careful consideration, I’ve come up with the topic that has been neglected so far but at the same time important for both camps (kernel space and user space, including managed space): complete memory dump and software trace analysis. I plan to publish the first webinar agenda early in July and deliver the webinar in August (the date should be finalized by mid July).

PS. Sailing memory spaces under an RGB flag

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -

Modern pattern-driven software trace analysis on Microsoft and Citrix platforms urgently requires a practical guide and OpenTask plans to publish this summer the following book in both Practical Foundations and Systematic Software Fault Analysis series:

• Title: Citrix Common Diagnostic Facility (CDF) and Microsoft Event Tracing for Windows (ETW) Software Trace Analysis: Practical Foundations
• Author: Dmitry Vostokov
• Publisher: Opentask (August 2010)
• Language: English
• Product Dimensions: 22.86 x 15.24
• ISBN: 1906717176
• ISBN-13: 978-1906717179
• Paperback: 200 pages

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -

OpenTask to offer first 3 volumes of Memory Dump Analysis Anthology in one set:

The set is available exclusively from OpenTask e-Commerce web site starting from June. Individual volumes are also available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other bookstores worldwide.

Product information:

• Title: Modern Memory Dump and Software Trace Analysis: Volumes 1-3
• Author: Dmitry Vostokov
• Language: English
• Product Dimensions: 22.86 x 15.24
• Paperback: 1600 pages
• Publisher: Opentask (31 May 2010)
• ISBN-13: 978-1-906717-99-5

Information about individual volumes:

• Volume 1
• Volume 2
• Volume 3

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -

Plan to start providing training and seminars in my free time. If you are interested please answer these questions (you can either respond here in comments or use this form for private communication http://www.dumpanalysis.org/contact):

• Are you interested in on-site training, prefer traveling or attending webinars?
• Are you interested in software trace analysis as well?
• What specific topics are you interested in?
• What training level (beginner, intermediate, advanced) are you interested in? (please provide an example, if possible)

Additional topics of expertise that can be integrated into training include Source Code Reading and Analysis, Debugging, Windows Architecture, Device Drivers, Troubleshooting Tools Design and Implementation, Multithreading, Deep Down C and C++, x86 and x64 Assembly Language Reading.

Looking forward to your responses. Any suggestions are welcome.

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -

This is a revised, edited, cross-referenced and thematically organized volume of selected DumpAnalysis.org blog posts about crash dump analysis and debugging written in July 2009 - January 2010 for software engineers developing and maintaining products on Windows platforms, quality assurance engineers testing software on Windows platforms and technical support and escalation engineers dealing with complex software issues. The fourth volume features:

- 13 new crash dump analysis patterns
- 13 new pattern interaction case studies
- 10 new trace analysis patterns
- 6 new Debugware patterns and case study
- Workaround patterns
- Updated checklist
- Fully cross-referenced with Volume 1, Volume 2 and Volume 3
- New appendixes

Product information:

• Title: Memory Dump Analysis Anthology, Volume 4
• Author: Dmitry Vostokov
• Language: English
• Product Dimensions: 22.86 x 15.24

• Paperback: 410 pages
• Publisher: Opentask (30 March 2010)
• ISBN-13: 978-1-906717-86-5

• Hardcover: 410 pages
• Publisher: Opentask (30 April 2010)
• ISBN-13: 978-1-906717-87-2

Back cover features memory space art image: Internal Process Combustion.

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -

“Memory dumps are facts.”

I’m very excited to announce that Volume 3 is available in paperback, hardcover and digital editions:

Memory Dump Analysis Anthology, Volume 3

Table of Contents

In two weeks paperback edition should also appear on Amazon and other bookstores. Amazon hardcover edition is planned to be available in January 2010.

The amount of information was so voluminous that I had to split the originally planned volume into two. Volume 4 should appear by the middle of February together with Color Supplement for Volumes 1-4. 

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org -

Previously announced Software Maintenance Institute was finally registered in Ireland (Reg. No. 400906) and its certificate was received yesterday.

Here is the current component structure of various institutions (depicted in UML):

Interface Tags:

IIP Interface of Iterative Publishing
IRD Interface of Research and Development
IDR Interface of Defect Research
IIR Interface of Information Repository
IME Interface of Memetic Engineering

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org -

Finally, after the long delay, the issue is available in print on Amazon and through other sellers:

Debugged! MZ/PE: Software Tracing

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org -

This is a revised, edited, cross-referenced and thematically organized volume of selected DumpAnalysis.org blog posts about crash dump analysis and debugging written in October 2008 - June 2009 for software engineers developing and maintaining products on Windows platforms, quality assurance engineers testing software on Windows platforms and technical support and escalation engineers dealing with complex software issues. The third volume features:

- 15 new crash dump analysis patterns
- 29 new pattern interaction case studies
- Trace analysis patterns
- Updated checklist
- Fully cross-referenced with Volume 1 and Volume 2
- New appendixes

Product information:

• Title: Memory Dump Analysis Anthology, Volume 3
• Author: Dmitry Vostokov
• Language: English
• Product Dimensions: 22.86 x 15.24

• Paperback: 404 pages
• Publisher: Opentask (20 December 2009)
• ISBN-13: 978-1-906717-43-8

• Hardcover: 404 pages
• Publisher: Opentask (30 January 2010)
• ISBN-13: 978-1-906717-44-5

Back cover features 3D computer memory visualization image.

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org -

Responding to numerous requests and suggestions I plan to make magazine interior excluding promotional vouchers available for free download. If someone needs covers including back covers where I put tips and tables to be used as posters or certification vouchers printed inside then they should buy the magazine from Amazon or other bookshops.

This initiative will be accompanied by a smart marketing trick that I plan to unveil in a few days together with the magazine website.

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org -

The digital version of the book is finally available:

x64 Windows Debugging: Practical Foundations

Paperback should be available in 1-2 weeks on Amazon and other stores. When working on the book I fixed errors in the previous x86 version. Errata file for it should be available tomorrow.

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org -

OpenTask plans to expand its Practical Foundations series and publish the following 2 books for the forthcoming Memory Dump Analysis Fundamentals certification (Unix track) being developed by Memory Analysis and Debugging Institute:

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org -

Finally the issue is available on Amazon and through other sellers:

Debugged! MZ/PE: Modeling Software Defects

I’m now planning the September issue and post details later. 

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org -

The second issue of the magazine was put into production today and should be available after one or two weeks on Amazon, B&N and other booksellers worldwide.

Title: Debugged! MZ/PE: Modeling Software Defects
Authors: Konstantin Chebotarev, Kapildev Ramlal, Dmitry Vostokov
ISBN: 1906717680
ISBN-13: 978-1906717681
Annotation: Welcome to the second issue of Debugged! MZ/PE magazine! It brings fault injection into new light and features articles discussing software defect construction via DLL injection, modeling CPU spikes and runaway exception processing. This issue also includes a memory dump analysis certification voucher. Back cover features WinDbg breakpoint and tracing command summary for easy desk reference. - Dmitry Vostokov - Editor-in-Chief

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org -