Essential for debugging real-time resource allocation and synchronization. d (address, nItems)
Managing a real-time operating system (RTOS) like VxWorks requires a specialized set of commands, primarily executed through its Kernel Shell
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.
: Deletes a specified file from the filesystem. mkdir "dirname" : Creates a new directory. 6. C-Shell vs. Cmd-Shell: Quick Syntax Comparison
| Command | Description | Example | |---|---|---| | d addr, [number], [width] | Display memory contents (width: 1=byte, 2=short, 4=long, 8=double) | d 0x10000, 128, 1 | | m addr, [width] | Modify memory at address (interactive) | m 0x10000, 4 | | memShow or memShow 1 | Show memory partition statistics and free block list | memShow 1 | | memPartShow partId, type | Display statistics for a specific memory partition | memPartShow myPart, 1 | vxworks command cheat sheet
| Command | Description | |---------|-------------| | version | Show VxWorks version | | sysSuspend | Halt system (debug mode) | | sysResume | Resume from sysSuspend | | reboot | Reboot the system | | printError <errno> | Print description of error number | | errno | Show last error number of current task | | show <kernelObject> | Generic object info (e.g., show tasks , show semaphores ) | | checkStack | Check stack usage of all tasks | | spy | Monitor task CPU usage (requires spyLib ) |
These commands help you understand the target hardware status, VxWorks version, and system uptime. Command (C-Shell) Command (Cmd-Shell) Description version() version Displays VxWorks version, build date, and runtime details. sysClkRateGet() sysClkRateGet Returns the system clock rate in ticks per second (Hz). h() history Displays the history of recently executed shell commands. 2. Task and Process Management
| Command | Description | |---------|-------------| | i | Show all tasks (ID, name, state, priority, stack used) | | ti <taskId> | Show detailed info about a specific task | | taskSpawn <name>, <prio>, <options>, <stackSize>, <entryFunc> | Create and start a new task | | taskDelete <taskId> | Delete a task | | taskSuspend <taskId> | Suspend a task | | taskResume <taskId> | Resume a suspended task | | taskPrioritySet <taskId>, <newPrio> | Change task priority | | taskLock / taskUnlock | Disable/enable preemption for current task | | taskRestart <taskId> | Restart a task |
: Displays a history of the recently executed shell commands. 4. Network Configuration and Statistics : Deletes a specified file from the filesystem
VxWorks provides a robust file system for storing and retrieving files. Here are some essential file system commands:
: Displays the Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) cache mapping IPs to physical MAC addresses. 6. Symbol Table & Dynamic Loading
rtpTaskList – Lists all tasks owned exclusively by a specific RTP.
If a task enters a "PEND" state permanently, it is likely waiting on a semaphore or resource that hasn't been released. 3. Network Configuration and Diagnostics C-Shell vs
These commands help you navigate the environment and check the overall status of the target. Description i of all tasks (Status, Priority, PC, etc.). h History : Shows recent commands (default size is 20). devs List all devices known on the target. ls List directory contents. pwd Show the present working directory. cd "path" Change directory (path must be in quotes). reboot Reboot the processor. printErrno(0) Describe the most recent error status . VxWorks Command Cheat Sheet | PDF | Booting - Scribd
semShow , – Displays information about a semaphore, including its type (binary, counting, mutual exclusion) and the queue of tasks blocked on it. Message Queues
Official VxWorks documentation, BSP-specific manuals, and driver references are the authoritative sources for exact command signatures and available utilities—because available commands depend on OS version, configured components, and board support packages. Familiarity with the runtime configuration used on your target is essential.