intel_audio_dump
Debug Intel audio hardware and drivers
SYNOPSIS
intel_audio_dump [options] [pci_device]
PARAMETERS
-h, --help
Display usage information and exit
-v, --version
Print version information
-d DEVICE, --device DEVICE
Specify HDA PCI device (e.g., 0000:00:1f.3) or ALSA hw device (e.g., hw:0,0)
-a, --all
Dump registers from all detected Intel HDA controllers
-c CODEC, --codec CODEC
Dump specific codec node (e.g., 0 for primary codec)
--dump-dsp
Include DSP firmware dump if available (SOF-enabled cards)
DESCRIPTION
intel_audio_dump is a specialized Linux diagnostic utility for capturing the register state of Intel High Definition Audio (HDA) controllers. Primarily used in audio debugging, it reads hardware registers from the HDA link, codecs, and associated DSP firmware, providing a textual dump suitable for analysis.
This tool is invaluable for troubleshooting issues like sound distortion, no audio output, or firmware glitches on Intel platforms, especially laptops and desktops with Realtek or Conexant codecs. It interacts directly with ALSA sound devices, often requiring root privileges to access /dev/snd/hwC*D* files. The output includes controller capabilities, stream formats, pin configurations, and verb responses, formatted in a human-readable hex dump with labels.
Commonly invoked in bug reports for kernel mailing lists or Intel/ALSA developers, it helps correlate software states with hardware. On modern systems using Sound Open Firmware (SOF), it captures DSP traces. Redirect output to files for sharing: sudo intel_audio_dump > dump.txt. Not for real-time monitoring; it's a snapshot tool.
CAVEATS
Requires root privileges (sudo). Works only on Intel HDA controllers; fails silently on non-Intel audio. Large output on multi-codec systems. Not for production use.
TYPICAL USAGE
sudo intel_audio_dump -d 0000:00:1f.3 > hda_dump.txt
Attach hda_dump.txt to bug reports.
OUTPUT EXCERPT
Sample shows:
CORB: size=256, RP=0, WP=0
Codec: 0x10ec0862 (Realtek ALC256)
Hex register values follow.
HISTORY
Developed by Intel engineers for Linux audio debugging around 2014-2015 as part of HDA driver tools. Integrated into SOF (Sound Open Firmware) ecosystem post-2019 for DSP support. Maintained in kernel source trees and distro packages like alsa-tools.
