Here’s a VxWorks command cheat sheet covering the most commonly used shell and kernel commands (for VxWorks 6.x/7.x).
This VxWorks command cheat sheet provides a concise reference to common commands, helping users interact with the system efficiently. As VxWorks is a powerful and feature-rich operating system, this cheat sheet is not exhaustive. Users are encouraged to explore the VxWorks documentation and online resources for more information.
VxWorks is a real-time operating system (RTOS) used in everything from Mars rovers to industrial controllers. Navigating the VxWorks shell (C-Shell or Kernel Shell) is essential for debugging and system management.
Below is a comprehensive cheat sheet for the most essential VxWorks commands. 🛠️ Task and Process Management Manage and monitor tasks running on the kernel.
i: Displays a list of all tasks (Status, Priority, PC, etc.).
ti : Shows detailed information about a specific task.
taskSpawn ": Spawns a new task. taskSuspend : Pauses a running task. taskResume : Resumes a suspended task. taskDelete : Terminated a task and frees memory.
checkStack : Displays stack usage for a task (0 for all tasks). 🔍 Memory and System Debugging Inspect memory, modify values, and check system health.
d
, , : Display memory content (hex dump). m , : Modify memory interactively. memShow: Displays the system memory map and free space.
adrSpaceShow: Shows memory context and address space details.
printErrno : Decodes a numeric error code into a readable string. tt : Function call stack trace (Backtrace). 📂 File System and I/O Commands for navigating directories and managing files. ls ": Lists files in a directory. cd ": Changes the current working directory. pwd: Prints the current working directory. copy ": Copies a file. rm ": Deletes a file. devs: Lists all mapped devices (e.g., /ata0, /tyCo/0). iosShow: Displays the I/O system status and drivers. 🌐 Network Configuration Configure and troubleshoot network interfaces.
ifShow: Lists all network interfaces and their IP addresses.
inetstatShow: Displays active network connections (similar to netstat). routeShow: Displays the IP routing table.
ping ": Tests connectivity to a remote host.
arpShow: Displays the ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) table. ⚙️ Symbol Table and Objects Locate functions and variables within the loaded image.
lkup ": Searches the symbol table for names matching the string. ld < : Loads an object module into memory. unld ": Unloads a previously loaded module. reboot: Restarts the system (use with caution). 💡 Quick Tips for the VxWorks Shell
Command History: Use the arrow keys or h to see recent commands.
Tab Completion: Available in newer versions (VxWorks 7) for symbols and files.
Redirecting Output: Use > filename to save command output to a file.
Hex vs Dec: Most shell inputs are interpreted as Hex by default; use 0x to be safe.
Navigating the VxWorks shell (WindSh) can feel like a throwback to pure C programming. Unlike standard Linux shells, VxWorks often expects function-call syntax: arguments must be comma-separated and strings quoted. Task Management i: Displays a summary of all active tasks in the system.
ti [taskId]: Shows detailed information from the Task Control Block (TCB) for a specific task.
sp [entryPt], [arg1], ...: Spawns a new task with default priority (100) and stack size (20000 bytes).
sps [entryPt]: Spawns a task and leaves it in a suspended state. td [taskId]: Deletes a specified task. ts [taskId]: Suspends a running task. tr [taskId]: Resumes a suspended task.
checkStack [taskId]: Displays stack usage for a task; use 0 to check all. System & Information
devs: Lists all devices currently known to the target system.
lkup "[string]": Searches the system symbol table for functions or variables containing the specified string.
printErrno [value]: Translates a numerical error code into a human-readable description. moduleShow: Lists all loaded object modules (programs).
memShow: Displays current memory partition and allocation statistics. h: Shows the command history. Memory & Debugging
d [address], [count], [width]: Displays memory contents starting at a specific hex address.
m [address]: Opens a prompt to modify memory at that address. b [address]: Sets a breakpoint at the specified address. bd [address]: Deletes a breakpoint. tt [taskId]: Shows a stack trace for the specified task. Filesystem & Booting ls: Lists the contents of the current directory. cd "[dir]": Changes the default directory. pwd: Prints the current working directory.
bootChange: Allows you to modify the saved boot parameters (bootline). reboot (or CTRL+X): Restarts the processor. VxWorks Command Line Cheat Sheet | PDF | Booting - Scribd vxworks command cheat sheet
Managing a real-time operating system (RTOS) like VxWorks requires a specialized set of commands, primarily executed through its Kernel Shell
. Unlike standard Linux or Windows prompts, the VxWorks shell often allows you to call C functions directly as commands, meaning syntax usually requires parentheses and quoted strings. Stack Overflow Essential Task Management
These commands allow you to control and monitor individual processes (tasks) in the system.
: Displays a summary of all active tasks, including their IDs and status. sp(entryPt, arg1, ...) : Spawns a new task starting at the specified function. td(taskId) : Deletes a task by its ID or name. ts(taskId) : Suspends a task, pausing its execution. tr(taskId) : Resumes a suspended task. ti(taskId)
: Displays detailed information from the Task Control Block (TCB), including register values. tt(taskId) : Shows a task's stack trace, useful for debugging crashes. Google Groups System & Memory Diagnostics
Use these to inspect the target hardware's state and memory contents. d(address, units, width)
: Dumps memory contents starting at a specific hexadecimal address. m(address, width) : Modifies memory at a given address interactively.
: Displays overall system memory usage, including free and allocated blocks.
: Lists all hardware devices currently recognized by the system. lkup "string"
: Searches the system symbol table for functions or variables containing that string. printErrno(value)
: Decodes a numeric error code into a human-readable description. Stack Overflow Networking Commands For troubleshooting connectivity and protocol stacks: VxWorks Command Cheat Sheet | PDF | Booting - Scribd
This quick reference guide covers common VxWorks shell (C interpreter) commands for task management, system diagnostics, and memory manipulation. Task Management Manage real-time tasks and execution flow: sp(entryPt, args) — Spawn a task with default parameters. sps(entryPt, args) — Spawn a task in a td(taskName|taskID) a specific task. ts(taskName|taskID) tr(taskName|taskID) a suspended task. System & Task Information Monitor system resources and task states: — Display a brief synopsis of all active tasks. ti(taskName|taskID) — Show detailed information from the Task Control Block (TCB) tt(taskName|taskID) — Show a stack trace for the specified task. checkStack(taskName|taskID) — Show the current stack usage for a task.
— List all hardware devices recognized by the target system. lkup "symbol"
— Search for and list symbols from the system symbol table. Memory & Diagnostics Inspect and modify system memory directly: d(address, [nUnits], [unitSize]) memory contents starting at a hex address. m(address, [unitSize]) memory contents at a specific address interactively. printErrno(n) — Describe the most recent error status (use for the latest). — Display general memory partition and usage statistics. Shell & File System Navigate the environment and control the target: ls ["dir"] — List files in the current or specified directory.
— Change the current working directory (paths must be in quotes). — Print the current working directory. — Restart the target system. ld < filename — Load a module or file into memory. Quick Usage Tips : Must always be enclosed in double quotes cd "/ide0" : Must be separated by for a general overview of available shell commands. commands or object-specific (semaphores, queues) diagnostics? VxWorks Command Cheat Sheet | PDF | Booting - Scribd
Save VxWorks Command Cheat Sheet For Later. Zoom out Zoom in. Task Information Commands. System Information/Modification Commands. VxWorks Command Cheat Sheet | PDF | Booting - Scribd
VxWorks Command Cheat Sheet
VxWorks is a real-time operating system (RTOS) widely used in embedded systems, particularly in the aerospace, automotive, and industrial automation industries. Mastering VxWorks commands is essential for developers, engineers, and system administrators working with this OS. Here is a comprehensive cheat sheet of common VxWorks commands:
System Information Commands
version: Displays the VxWorks version, build date, and system architecture.system: Displays system information, including memory usage, CPU utilization, and system uptime.reboot: Reboots the system.Process Management Commands
ps: Lists all running processes, including process ID (PID), name, and priority.kill <pid>: Terminates a process with the specified PID.taskSpawn <name> <priority> <options> <func> <arg1> <arg2> ...: Creates a new task (process).taskDelete <pid>: Deletes a task.Memory Management Commands
memShow: Displays memory usage statistics, including free and used memory.memStats: Displays detailed memory statistics.malloc <size>: Allocates memory of the specified size.File System Commands
ls: Lists files and directories in the current directory.cd <directory>: Changes the current directory.mkdir <directory>: Creates a new directory.rm <file>: Deletes a file.cp <source> <destination>: Copies a file.Network Commands
ifShow: Displays network interface information, including IP address and netmask.routeShow: Displays routing table information.ping <host>: Tests network connectivity to a specified host.Debugging Commands
printf: Prints formatted output to the console.logShow: Displays logged messages.syms: Displays symbol table information.Security Commands
passwd: Changes the system password.useradd <username>: Creates a new user account.userdel <username>: Deletes a user account.Miscellaneous Commands
help: Displays a list of available commands.man <command>: Displays detailed information about a specific command.history: Displays a list of previously executed commands.This cheat sheet covers commonly used VxWorks commands, but it's not exhaustive. VxWorks provides a wide range of commands and options, and you may need to consult the official documentation or seek guidance from experienced developers for more specific tasks.
Additional Tips
ps for processShow).By mastering these VxWorks commands, you'll be better equipped to develop, debug, and maintain embedded systems efficiently. Happy coding!
VxWorks is a premier real-time operating system (RTOS) used in everything from Mars rovers to industrial controllers. Navigating its shell is a fundamental skill for any embedded engineer. This cheat sheet serves as a comprehensive reference for the most essential VxWorks commands, ranging from basic task management to advanced system debugging. The VxWorks Shell Environment
The VxWorks shell (typically the C-style interpreter) has unique syntax rules:
Strings must be quoted: Commands like cd "/ata0" require double quotes. Here’s a VxWorks command cheat sheet covering the
Arguments are comma-separated: Use sp myFunc, arg1, arg2 instead of spaces. Case Sensitivity: Most commands are case-sensitive. 1. Task Management & Information
Tasks are the "threads" of VxWorks. These commands help you spawn, monitor, and control them. VxWorks Command Cheat Sheet | PDF | Booting - Scribd
VxWorks is a real-time operating system (RTOS) that provides a powerful command-line interface, typically accessed via the Kernel Shell (windsh or the target-resident shell) or the User-Mode Shell (cmd) for Real-Time Processes (RTPs). Core Shell Basics
C-Interpreter Syntax: In the standard kernel shell, commands are C-function calls.
Strings must be enclosed in double quotes (e.g., cd "temp").
Arguments are separated by commas (e.g., sp functionName, arg1, arg2).
Switching Shells: In modern versions like VxWorks 7, use the cmd command to switch from the C-interpreter to a more traditional Unix-like command shell. Task Management VxWorks Command Cheat Sheet | PDF | Booting - Scribd
This cheat sheet covers essential commands for managing tasks, memory, and system information within the VxWorks shell environment (WindSh). Task Management i: Displays a summary of all active tasks in the system.
ti "taskName" or taskID: Shows detailed Information for a specific task, including its TCB (Task Control Block).
sp function, arg1, ...: Spawns a new task starting at the specified function with provided arguments. td "taskName" or taskID: Deletes a specific task. ts "taskName" or taskID: Suspends a task. tr "taskName" or taskID: Resumes a suspended task.
tt "taskName" or taskID: Shows a stack trace for the specified task. Memory & Object Information
d address, [nWords]: Displays memory contents starting at a specific address.
m address: Modifies memory at the given address interactively.
memShow: Displays general memory partition statistics, such as free and allocated space.
moduleShow: Lists all currently loaded object modules and programs.
show semaphoreID: Displays information about a specific semaphore. System & File Operations
devs: Lists all devices currently known to the target system.
ls ["directory"]: Lists the contents of the current or specified directory. pwd: Prints the current working directory path. cd "path": Changes the current directory. reboot: Reboots the processor.
lkup "name": Searches for and lists symbols matching the string in the system symbol table.
h [n]: Displays the command history; default size is typically 20.
printErrno status: Describes the meaning of the most recent error status value. Network & Boot
ifShow: Displays the status and configuration of network interfaces. bootParamsShow: Displays the current boot line parameters.
bootChange: Allows interactive modification of the saved boot parameters.
ping "host", [count]: Sends ICMP echo requests to a network host. Shell Syntax Tips
Quotes: Most commands require string arguments (like task names or file paths) to be enclosed in double quotes (e.g., ti "tRoot").
Arguments: Multiple arguments for functions or commands are separated by commas.
VxWorks Command Cheat Sheet: A Comprehensive Guide
VxWorks is a popular real-time operating system (RTOS) used in a wide range of industries, including aerospace, automotive, medical, and industrial automation. As a developer working with VxWorks, it's essential to have a solid understanding of the various commands and tools available to you. In this article, we'll provide a comprehensive VxWorks command cheat sheet, covering the most commonly used commands, tools, and techniques.
Introduction to VxWorks
Before we dive into the command cheat sheet, let's take a brief look at VxWorks. VxWorks is a real-time operating system designed for embedded systems, offering a high degree of reliability, performance, and flexibility. It's widely used in applications that require predictability, low latency, and high availability.
VxWorks Command-Line Interface
The VxWorks command-line interface (CLI) provides a powerful way to interact with the operating system, execute commands, and debug applications. The CLI is typically accessed through a console or terminal connection. Conclusion This VxWorks command cheat sheet provides a
Basic VxWorks Commands
Here are some basic VxWorks commands to get you started:
help: Displays a list of available commands and their syntax.version: Displays the VxWorks version number and build date.uptime: Displays the system uptime in seconds.date: Displays the current date and time.time: Displays the current time in seconds since the system started.Process Management Commands
Process management is a critical aspect of VxWorks. Here are some essential commands for managing processes:
task: Displays a list of running tasks, including their IDs, names, and priorities.task create: Creates a new task with the specified attributes (e.g., name, priority, stack size).task delete: Deletes a task by its ID or name.task suspend: Suspends a task by its ID or name.task resume: Resumes a suspended task by its ID or name.Memory Management Commands
Memory management is crucial in VxWorks. Here are some essential commands for managing memory:
mem: Displays memory usage statistics, including free and used memory.malloc: Allocates memory from the heap.free: Releases memory back to the heap.memstat: Displays detailed memory statistics.File System Commands
VxWorks provides a robust file system for storing and retrieving files. Here are some essential file system commands:
fs: Displays a list of available file systems.cd: Changes the current directory.pwd: Displays the current working directory.ls: Lists files and directories in the current directory.mkdir: Creates a new directory.rm: Deletes a file or directory.Networking Commands
VxWorks provides a range of networking commands for configuring and managing network interfaces:
ifconfig: Displays network interface configuration and statistics.ping: Sends ICMP echo requests to a specified host.netstat: Displays network socket statistics.Debugging Commands
Debugging is an essential part of VxWorks development. Here are some essential debugging commands:
break: Sets a breakpoint at a specified address or function.continue: Continues execution from a breakpoint.step: Executes a single instruction or function call.backtrace: Displays a stack trace of the current call chain.VxWorks Shell Commands
The VxWorks shell provides a range of commands for executing scripts, managing environment variables, and more:
script: Executes a script file.set: Sets an environment variable.unset: Unsets an environment variable.export: Exports an environment variable.Advanced VxWorks Commands
Here are some advanced VxWorks commands for power users:
watchdog: Configures and manages the system watchdog timer.int: Displays interrupt statistics and configuration.cache: Displays cache statistics and configuration.Conclusion
In this comprehensive VxWorks command cheat sheet, we've covered the most commonly used commands, tools, and techniques for working with VxWorks. Whether you're a seasoned developer or just starting out, this guide should provide a valuable reference for your VxWorks development needs.
Additional Resources
For more information on VxWorks and its commands, we recommend the following resources:
FAQs
Q: What is the default VxWorks shell? A: The default VxWorks shell is the VxWorks command-line interface (CLI).
Q: How do I create a new task in VxWorks?
A: Use the task create command to create a new task.
Q: How do I display memory usage statistics in VxWorks?
A: Use the mem command to display memory usage statistics.
Q: How do I configure a network interface in VxWorks?
A: Use the ifconfig command to configure a network interface.
By mastering these VxWorks commands, you'll become more efficient and effective in your development work, and be better equipped to tackle complex projects and debugging tasks. Happy developing!
printf <format> <args>: Prints a formatted string to the console.logShow: Displays log messages.symShow: Displays symbol information.| Command | Description |
|---------|-------------|
| msgQShow | Show all message queues |
| msgQSend <qId>, <msg>, <size>, <timeout> | Send message |
| msgQReceive <qId>, <buffer>, <size>, <timeout> | Receive message |
| msgQDelete <qId> | Delete queue |
Let's combine these commands into practical workflows.
Load and run a test task:
Debug a stack overflow:
Flash or update image:
history: Displays a list of previous commands.alias <name> <command>: Creates a new alias.unalias <name>: Deletes an alias.version: Display VxWorks versionsysInfo: Display system information (e.g., CPU, memory)