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46.2.3.4. Changing the Default Action

By default, when kdump fails to create a core dump, the root file system is mounted and /sbin/init is run. To change this behavior, open the /etc/kdump.conf configuration file as root, remove the hash sign (“#”) from the beginning of the #default shell line, and replace the value with a desired action as described in Table 46.2, “Supported actions”. For example: 
default halt
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Table 46.2. Supported actions
Option Action
reboot Reboot the system, losing the core in the process.
halt After failing to capture a core, halt the system.
shell Run the msh session from within the initramfs, allowing a user to record the core manually.
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