DMA for creating a Memory dump of a Windows Computer

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1

Hey, is it possible to use the Arduino Zero DMA controller to create a memory dump of a Windows machine? (Reading out the whole RAM)

If yes how would I connect my Arduino to the PC so it could create this memory dump?

2

No.

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3

It is far easier to use the DMA controller in your PC, it has several channels.

4

How would I use my build in DMA Controller? Couldn’t find any useful informations to that online, neither on Microsoft’s WDK documentation nor UEFI EDK2

5

It's been a long time since I did any Windows kernel work, but ISTR that there is an ioctl call to do a memory dump to disk.

6

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=windows+kernel+driver+dma

...entire first page.

7

Look at the DM8237, If my memory is correct it has a 64K limit on a single transfer. There are other devices available. Here is a link: Direct Memory Access (DMA) Controller in Computer Architecture - GeeksforGeeks

In your PC I assume, Bus Mastering is supported. This eliminated the need for a central DMA (Direct Memory Access) controller and allows individual devices to perform the needed bus mastering themselves. Your DMA device is able to perform DMA operations without needing help from a centralized DMA controller. This should get you started. Have you figured out where you are going to transfer the data to?

To connect I assume you will make a buffer card that plugs into a free memory slot. The signals are very fast so great care must be taken.

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