VxWorks Command Cheat Sheet
VxWorks is a real-time operating system (RTOS) widely used in embedded systems, particularly in the aerospace, automotive, and industrial automation industries. Mastering VxWorks commands is essential for developers, engineers, and system administrators working with this OS. Here is a comprehensive cheat sheet of common VxWorks commands:
System Information Commands
version: Displays the VxWorks version, build date, and system architecture.system: Displays system information, including memory usage, CPU utilization, and system uptime.reboot: Reboots the system.Process Management Commands
ps: Lists all running processes, including process ID (PID), name, and priority.kill <pid>: Terminates a process with the specified PID.taskSpawn <name> <priority> <options> <func> <arg1> <arg2> ...: Creates a new task (process).taskDelete <pid>: Deletes a task.Memory Management Commands
memShow: Displays memory usage statistics, including free and used memory.memStats: Displays detailed memory statistics.malloc <size>: Allocates memory of the specified size.File System Commands
ls: Lists files and directories in the current directory.cd <directory>: Changes the current directory.mkdir <directory>: Creates a new directory.rm <file>: Deletes a file.cp <source> <destination>: Copies a file.Network Commands
ifShow: Displays network interface information, including IP address and netmask.routeShow: Displays routing table information.ping <host>: Tests network connectivity to a specified host.Debugging Commands
printf: Prints formatted output to the console.logShow: Displays logged messages.syms: Displays symbol table information.Security Commands
passwd: Changes the system password.useradd <username>: Creates a new user account.userdel <username>: Deletes a user account.Miscellaneous Commands
help: Displays a list of available commands.man <command>: Displays detailed information about a specific command.history: Displays a list of previously executed commands.This cheat sheet covers commonly used VxWorks commands, but it's not exhaustive. VxWorks provides a wide range of commands and options, and you may need to consult the official documentation or seek guidance from experienced developers for more specific tasks.
Additional Tips
ps for processShow).By mastering these VxWorks commands, you'll be better equipped to develop, debug, and maintain embedded systems efficiently. Happy coding!
Managing a real-time operating system (RTOS) like VxWorks requires a specialized set of commands, primarily executed through its Kernel Shell
. Unlike standard Linux or Windows prompts, the VxWorks shell often allows you to call C functions directly as commands, meaning syntax usually requires parentheses and quoted strings. Stack Overflow Essential Task Management
These commands allow you to control and monitor individual processes (tasks) in the system.
: Displays a summary of all active tasks, including their IDs and status. sp(entryPt, arg1, ...) : Spawns a new task starting at the specified function. td(taskId) : Deletes a task by its ID or name. ts(taskId) : Suspends a task, pausing its execution. tr(taskId) : Resumes a suspended task. ti(taskId)
: Displays detailed information from the Task Control Block (TCB), including register values. tt(taskId) : Shows a task's stack trace, useful for debugging crashes. Google Groups System & Memory Diagnostics
Use these to inspect the target hardware's state and memory contents. d(address, units, width)
: Dumps memory contents starting at a specific hexadecimal address. m(address, width) : Modifies memory at a given address interactively.
: Displays overall system memory usage, including free and allocated blocks.
: Lists all hardware devices currently recognized by the system. lkup "string" vxworks command cheat sheet
: Searches the system symbol table for functions or variables containing that string. printErrno(value)
: Decodes a numeric error code into a human-readable description. Stack Overflow Networking Commands For troubleshooting connectivity and protocol stacks: VxWorks Command Cheat Sheet | PDF | Booting - Scribd
VxWorks is a real-time operating system (RTOS) used extensively in embedded systems. Interacting with it often requires the use of its target shell, which supports a variety of commands for task management, memory manipulation, and system diagnostics. Core Shell Commands
These commands are the fundamental tools for navigating and managing the VxWorks environment.
i: Displays a list of all active tasks, including their ID, priority, and current state.
h [n]: Shows a history of the last n commands entered in the shell. If n is 0, it displays the most recent 20 commands.
lkup "string": Searches the system symbol table for functions or variables containing the specified string. This is invaluable for finding "Show" routines.
checkStack: Verifies if any tasks have exceeded their allocated stack space.
version: Displays the current VxWorks kernel version and build date. Task Management
Managing execution flow is critical in an RTOS environment. Use these commands to control tasks.
sp function, [arg1], ..., [arg9]: Spawns a new task. It accepts up to 9 arguments with a default priority of 100. ts taskId: Suspends a specific task by its ID. tr taskId: Resumes a suspended task. td taskId: Deletes a task immediately.
period n, function, [arg1]: Creates a task that runs the specified function cyclically every n seconds.
repeat m, function, [arg1]: Repeats a function m times. Setting m to 0 makes it run indefinitely. Memory and Object Inspection
These commands allow developers to peek into the system's memory and object states.
d [address, [count, [width]]]: Displays memory contents starting at a specific address. You can specify the number of units and the width (1, 2, 4, or 8 bytes).
m address: Allows you to modify memory at a specific address interactively.
memShow: Provides a summary of system memory usage, including free and allocated blocks.
taskShow taskId: Displays detailed information about a specific task, such as its stack usage and registers.
moduleShow: Lists all loaded object modules and their base addresses. Filesystem and Navigation
Standard filesystem operations are supported within the shell for target-based storage.
ls: Lists files and directories in the current working directory. VxWorks Command Cheat Sheet VxWorks is a real-time
cd "path": Changes the current directory. Note that strings must often be quoted in the VxWorks shell. pwd: Prints the current working directory. devs: Lists all initialized devices on the system.
copy "source", "dest": Copies a file from one location to another. Network Diagnostics
VxWorks includes tools for monitoring and configuring network interfaces.
ifShow: Displays information about the network interfaces, including IP addresses and packet statistics.
ping "host": Standard utility to test connectivity to another network host. routeShow: Displays the system's current routing table.
For detailed API references and advanced development, you can consult the VxWorks Kernel API Reference or the Wind River Labs documentation. [VxW] VxWorks basic command - Google Groups
Here’s a detailed VxWorks Command Cheat Sheet, focused on the most useful shell and kernel commands for day-to-day debugging, system inspection, and task management.
VxWorks versions differ slightly (especially pre-6.x vs 6.x/7.x), but these commands work in most VxWorks shell (CMD mode) environments.
VxWorks offers multiple shell interfaces: the traditional C-based shell (sometimes called the VxWorks shell), the Tornado/Target Server remote shell, and the newer VxWorks 6+ shell variants including the vxShell and shell-like utilities accessible via network consoles (telnet, SSH) or serial ports. Access is commonly through a development host connected to the embedded target; commands entered at the shell affect the running target in real time.
| Command | Description |
|---------|-------------|
| semShow | List all semaphores (ID, name, type, task waiting list) |
| semGive <semId> | Signal a semaphore |
| semTake <semId> [,timeout] | Wait for semaphore (timeout in ticks) |
| semDelete <semId> | Delete a semaphore |
| Command | Description |
|---------|-------------|
| ifShow | Show network interfaces |
| inetShow | Show IP address info |
| routeShow | Show routing table |
| ping "<host>" [count] | Ping a remote host |
| arpShow | Show ARP cache |
| netStackSysShow | Show network stack stats |
| tcpShow | Show TCP connections |
| udpShow | Show UDP endpoints |
| Version | Shell command style |
|---------|----------------------|
| VxWorks 5.x | C‑interpreter shell, -> prompt, no spaces in sp args carefully |
| VxWorks 6.x | Added host‑shell, some commands need cmd prefix |
| VxWorks 7.x | More POSIX‑like, vx shell, task commands still work |
Always check
helpon your target – optional components change available commands.
VxWorks is a premier real-time operating system (RTOS) used in everything from Mars rovers to industrial controllers. Navigating its shell is a fundamental skill for any embedded engineer. This cheat sheet serves as a comprehensive reference for the most essential VxWorks commands, ranging from basic task management to advanced system debugging. The VxWorks Shell Environment
The VxWorks shell (typically the C-style interpreter) has unique syntax rules:
Strings must be quoted: Commands like cd "/ata0" require double quotes.
Arguments are comma-separated: Use sp myFunc, arg1, arg2 instead of spaces. Case Sensitivity: Most commands are case-sensitive. 1. Task Management & Information
Tasks are the "threads" of VxWorks. These commands help you spawn, monitor, and control them. VxWorks Command Cheat Sheet | PDF | Booting - Scribd
This cheat sheet covers essential commands for managing tasks, memory, and system information within the VxWorks shell environment (WindSh). Task Management i: Displays a summary of all active tasks in the system.
ti "taskName" or taskID: Shows detailed Information for a specific task, including its TCB (Task Control Block).
sp function, arg1, ...: Spawns a new task starting at the specified function with provided arguments. td "taskName" or taskID: Deletes a specific task. ts "taskName" or taskID: Suspends a task. tr "taskName" or taskID: Resumes a suspended task.
tt "taskName" or taskID: Shows a stack trace for the specified task. Memory & Object Information version : Displays the VxWorks version, build date,
d address, [nWords]: Displays memory contents starting at a specific address.
m address: Modifies memory at the given address interactively.
memShow: Displays general memory partition statistics, such as free and allocated space.
moduleShow: Lists all currently loaded object modules and programs.
show semaphoreID: Displays information about a specific semaphore. System & File Operations
devs: Lists all devices currently known to the target system.
ls ["directory"]: Lists the contents of the current or specified directory. pwd: Prints the current working directory path. cd "path": Changes the current directory. reboot: Reboots the processor.
lkup "name": Searches for and lists symbols matching the string in the system symbol table.
h [n]: Displays the command history; default size is typically 20.
printErrno status: Describes the meaning of the most recent error status value. Network & Boot
ifShow: Displays the status and configuration of network interfaces. bootParamsShow: Displays the current boot line parameters.
bootChange: Allows interactive modification of the saved boot parameters.
ping "host", [count]: Sends ICMP echo requests to a network host. Shell Syntax Tips
Quotes: Most commands require string arguments (like task names or file paths) to be enclosed in double quotes (e.g., ti "tRoot").
Arguments: Multiple arguments for functions or commands are separated by commas.
This cheat sheet covers the most essential commands for the VxWorks C-Shell (the default shell for older versions like 5.x and 6.x). ⚠️ Shell Basics : Must be separated by : Must be enclosed in double quotes Hex Values : Prefixed with 🏃 Task Management Description Display a summary of all active tasks Spawn (start) a new task sp myFunc, arg1, arg2 Spawn a task in a sps myFunc a task by ID or name td 0x12345 a running task ts "tMyTask" a suspended task tr 0x12345 Task Information (detailed status) ti "tMyTask" Task Trace (shows the stack trace) tt 0x12345 🔍 System & Debugging Description Search the system symbol table lkup "myGlobal" checkStack Show stack usage for a specific task checkStack "tShell" printErrno Decode the last error number into English printErrno 0x11 List all recognized hardware devices Display VxWorks version and build info Display command history 💾 Memory Operations Description memory (hex dump) d 0x800000, 128 memory (interactive prompt) m 0x800000 Fill a block of memory with a value fill 0x8000, 100, 0 adrSpaceShow Show memory map / address space adrSpaceShow 📂 File System & Navigation Description List files in current directory Long list (shows sizes/dates) Change directory cd "/ata0/" Print working directory Copy a file copy "old.txt", "new.txt" ⚙️ Kernel & Booting Description Restart the system bootChange Edit boot parameters (IP, file paths) bootChange Load a module into memory < myModule.o Unload a module unld "myModule.o" 💡 Pro Tips : Most commands accept either the (in quotes) or the . Using the ID is often faster. Control Keys to force a reboot if the shell is unresponsive. Redirection
: You can redirect output to a file using standard notation: i > "tasks.txt" If you'd like, I can add sections for Network Troubleshooting ) or specific command-line tools. Which version are you working with?
In the world of real-time operating systems (RTOS), VxWorks by Wind River stands as a titan. For over three decades, it has powered mission-critical systems: from the Mars rovers (Curiosity and Perseverance) and NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope to avionics systems, industrial robotics, and network infrastructure.
If you are debugging a driver, testing a board support package (BSP), or tuning a real-time task, you will eventually find yourself staring at the VxWorks shell (also known as the C interpreter shell or Host shell). Unlike a Linux bash shell, the VxWorks shell is a direct window into the kernel. You can execute C functions, inspect memory, change variables, and even spawn tasks on the fly.
This VxWorks Command Cheat Sheet is designed to be your daily reference. We will cover everything from basic navigation to advanced system debugging for VxWorks 6.x and 7.x.