a piece of hardware, often built into a Single Board Computer (SBC) or embedded PC that can cause a reset when it determines that the system has either hung up or is no longer executing the correct sequence of code
a piece of hardware that can be used to automatically detect software anomalies and reset the processor if any occur
a safe guard available in many microcontrollers
a small bit of hardware which will reset the machine if your operating system or program fails to pay attention to it before the timer loses its patience
a useful device, resetting the microprocessor if it gets stuck in an infinite loop
Effectively, the watchdog timer ensures that your software has not crashed. If the watchdog determines that your software has crashed, it automatically reboots the CPU. This is very helpful for applications performing critical functions for which a crash could cause major problems. The watchdog often offers a feature that, instead of rebooting the system, will trigger an interrupt. This is useful in situations in which your software does not need to be completely reset to be "revived." When a watchdog timer is enabled, the software must write to a certain register on a regular basis to let the watchdog know that the program is still running correctly. If the program does not perform this write within a given period of time, the watchdog assumes the program has crashed and effects a system reboot (or triggers an interrupt, depending upon the way the watchdog has been configured).
A timer that monitors a cyclical process and is cleared at the conclusion of each cycle. If the watchdog runs past its programmed time period, it will cause a fault.
An independent safety device (timer) that will reset if software does not periodically reset it. It is a mechanism (hardware or software) that is used to trigger an event or an escape from a process unless the timer is periodically reset. X-X-X
automatically re-starts system after a detection of software interruption.
A fail-safe mechanism that intervenes if a system stops functioning. Abbreviated WDT. A hardware timer that is periodically reset by software. If the software crashes or hangs, the watchdog timer will expire, and the entire system will be reset automatically. [ more] A typical watchdog setup.
1. Hardware or software mechanism that is used to trigger an event or an escape from a process unless the timer is periodically reset. See also watchdog. 2. In NetWare, a timer that indicates the maximum period of time that a server will wait for a client to respond to a watchdog packet. If the timer expires, the server sends another watchdog packet (up to a set maximum). See also watchdog packet.
A watchdog timer is a computer hardware timing device that triggers a system reset if the main program, due to some fault condition, such as a hang, neglects to regularly service the watchdog (writing a “service pulse†to it, also referred to as “patting the dogâ€). The intention is to bring the system back from the hung state into normal operation.
