Understanding dmesg

Before we dive into the subject of log files, I would like to begin by spending a few moments to discuss the importance of the dmesg command.

The dmesg command is used to record messages from the kernel that are specifically related to the process of hardware detection and configuration. I will not go in too much technical detail at this point, but it is important to realize that these messages are derived from the kernel ring buffer; a condition that can not only prove to be of great assistance because it relates back to the subject of hardware troubleshooting, but one that provides evidence as to why an understanding of the system hardware can reflect in a possible software diagnosis and vice versa.

The dmesg file is located ...

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