Kernel panic - Definition and Overview

A kernel panic is a message displayed by an operating system upon detecting an internal system error from which it cannot recover. Kernel panics often provide cryptic debugging information that is useful only to the developers of the operating system.

Attempts by the operating system to read an invalid or unpermitted address are a common source of kernel panics. A panic may also occur as a result of a hardware failure.

Kernel Panic (http://ubersoft.net/kpanic/index.html) is also the name of a web comic by Christopher Wright. The comic revolves around a group of unix and linux server admins ordered to change the server farm over to Nifty Doorways (a parody of the Windows operating system.).

Related articles

• Black screen of death
• Blue screen of death
• Sad Mac
• Guru meditation
• System bomb