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Checkpoint/restart using Core Dump in Linux

Can Checkpoint/restart be implemented using the core dump of a process? The core file contains a complete memory dump of the process, thus in theory it should be possible to restore the process to the same state it was in when the core was dumped.

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Answer

No, this is not possible in general without special support from the kernel. The kernel maintains a LOT of per-process state, such as the file descriptor table, IPC objects, etc.

If you were willing to make lots of simplifying assumptions, such as no open files, no open sockets, no living IPC objects, no shared memory regions, and more, then in theory it would be possible, but in practice I don’t believe it’s possible with Linux even with those concessions.

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