How to use ADPlus to capture hangs and crashes (NETIQKB72679)

How to use ADPlus to capture hangs and crashes
How can I use Microosoft ADPlus to troubleshoot processes that hang or crash?

ADPlus is a console-based Visual Basic script included with the Microsoft Debugging Tools for Windows installation.  ADPlus automates the Microsoft debugger to produce and collect memory dumps and log files containing debug information for one or more processes.

ADPlus has two primary run modes:  crash mode and hang mode.  In hang mode ADPlus immediately produces a full memory dump for all processes specified once the script has completed.  In crash mode ADPlus attaches the CDB debugger to all processes specified and configures the debugger to monitor for the application exceptions.  While running in crash mode, the debugger remains attached to the specified processes until a fatal exception is trapped or the operation is canceled using Control-C.

The following command line options are the most common and should be used when diagnosing a crash with your NetIQ product:

• -hang :  Use this switch to capture dumps for hung processes.  Your Technical Support engineer will let you know which mode to use with ADPlus for your specific issue
• -crash : Use this switch to capture dumps for crashes.  Your Technical Support engineer will let you know which mode to use with ADPlus for your specific issue
• -pn process name : Specify the process name you want to analyze
• -o output directory : Specify the path to place the debug output files (memory dumps and logs)

Usage Example:

ADPlus.vbs -crash -pn netiqmc.exe -o c:\temp

To use ADPlus you must install the Microsoft Debugging Tools for Windows.  To obtain the tools use the links below for your specific platform type:

• Debugging Tools for Windows 32-bit Version
• Debugging Tools for Windows 64-bit Version

For more information on ADPlus refer to Microsoft KB Article 286350

One or more of the following process exceptions is generated by a NetIQ Process:

• Invalid Handle
• Illegal Instruction
• Integer Divide by Zero
• Floating Point Divide by Zero
• Integer Overflow
• Invalid Lock Sequence
• Access Violation
• Stack Overflow
• C++ EH Exception
• Unknown Exception

or, a NetIQ process (service, Console, etc.) becomes unresponsive, or hangs.

Formerly known as NETIQKB72679

You must install Windows Scripting Host components on the system for ADPlus to run. To download the Windows Scripting Host, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms950396.aspx (http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms950396.aspx)

Note: Windows Scripting Host components may already be installed if you have any of the following Microsoft products installed:

• Microsoft Internet Explorer 5
• Microsoft Office 2000
• Microsoft Visual InterDev 6.0
• Microsoft Visual Studio 6.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Option Pack
• Microsoft Windows 2000
• Microsoft Windows XP
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003
• Microsoft Windows Vista