Setting kmem_flags Debugging Flags

The kmem_flags kernel variable enables debugging features in the kernel's memory allocator. Set kmem_flags to 0xf to enable the allocator's debugging features. These features include runtime checks to find the following code conditions:

• Writing to a buffer after the buffer is freed

• Using memory before the memory is initialized

• Writing past the end of a buffer

The Oracle Solaris Modular Debugger Guide describes how to use the kernel memory allocator to analyze such problems.

Testing and developing with kmem_flags set to 0xf can help detect latent memory corruption bugs. Because setting kmem_flags to 0xf changes the internal behavior of the kernel memory allocator, you should thoroughly test without kmem_flags as well.