Your system generates a system dump when a severe error occurs. System dumps can also be user-initiated by users with root user authority. A system dump creates a picture of your system's memory contents. System administrators and programmers can generate a dump and analyze its contents when debugging new applications.
If your system stops with an 888 number flashing in the operator panel display, the system has generated a dump and saved it to a dump device.
To generate a system dump see:
In AIX Version 4, some of the error log and dump commands are delivered in an optionally installable package called bos.sysmgt.serv_aid. System dump commands included in the bos.sysmgt.serv_aid include the sysdumpstart command. See the Software Service Aids Package for more information.