NOTE: the product described in this section is no longer generally available, but can be made available on an as-is, exception basis for customers still supporting a legacy OS/2 install base. Please contact Golden Code Development.

Promotional materials referencing this product may contain out-of-date information.

Kernel Trace for OS/2 is a powerful tracing tool for the OS/2 platform. The most comprehensive, commercially available software of its kind, Kernel Trace provides a unique view of activity deep within the operating system. Highlights include:

Trace Kernel Events and Requests. Kernel Trace provides visibility into key activity occurring inside of the OS/2 kernel itself. By leveraging OS/2's Security Enabling ServicesTM (SES) subsystem, Kernel Trace has the ability to trace some of the most interesting and information-rich calls into the OS/2 kernel. Detailed data is provided with each traced call, including function arguments and return codes, where applicable. The following system tracepoints can be monitored:

  • File Access: open, close, read, write, change pointer.
  • File Manipulation: delete and move.
  • File Information/Attributes: query and set file information, set file size, set file mode, set path information.
  • File Search: find first, find next, find close.
  • Directory Manipulation: make, change, remove directories.
  • Program Execution: execute program, loader open, get module, create Virtual DOS Machine.
  • Set Date/Time.
  • Device Driver Access: open, close, read, write, I/O control for logical and physical disks.

Power. Its design as a software-only implementation allows deployment throughout the enterprise. In this environment, any remote OS/2 machine can produce traces, when accessed from a central location using existing remote management technologies, such as telnet or Netfinity® Manager.

Simplicity. In order to support the widest range of customer environments, Kernel Trace has a command line interface. This simplifies remote use and enables automation via REXX. All tracepoints from all processes can be monitored, or the list of tracepoints or processes can be reduced to simplify analysis, using filters. The trace files generated are easily analyzed with the Golden Code Trace Analyzer(TM).

Low Overhead. Kernel Trace has minimal impact on system resources when it is dormant: negligible CPU utilization and less than 470KB RAM utilization.

Convenience. Implemented 100% in software, Kernel Trace does not require any specialized hardware. Since all trace data is written directly to a file, there is no need for a secondary machine connected via a null modem cable. Kernel Trace does not interfere with the normal activity of the installed machine, even while tracing.