DMESG(8) | System Manager's Manual | DMESG(8)

# NAME

`dmesg` — display the system message buffer

# SYNOPSIS

`dmesg` | [`-s`] [`-M` core] [`-N` system]

# DESCRIPTION

`dmesg` displays the contents of the system message buffer. It is most commonly used to review system startup messages. On some systems the message buffer can survive reboot and be retained (in the hope of exposing information from a crash).

The options are as follows:

`-M` core
  Extract values associated with the name list from the specified core instead of the default /dev/kmem.
`-N` system
  Extract the name list from the specified system instead of the default /bsd.
`-s`
  Display the contents of the console message buffer instead. This can be used to review rc(8) system startup messages. This option is limited to the superuser.

# FILES

/var/run/dmesg.boot
  copy of `dmesg` saved by rc(8) at boot time

# SEE ALSO

syslogd(8)

# HISTORY

The `dmesg` command appeared in Version 7 AT&T UNIX.

June 30, 2024 | Debian