What is watchdog initialization?

Watchdog initialization is a process of configuring and enabling the watchdog timer in a computing device. A watchdog timer is a hardware device or software component that monitors the functioning of the system and resets it if it fails to respond in a timely manner. The initialization process involves setting up the watchdog timer's parameters including its timeout period, interrupt level, and reset behavior. Additionally, watchdog initialization may involve configuring other system components to work with the watchdog, such as interrupt handlers, power management units, and operating systems. Proper watchdog initialization is critical to ensuring system reliability and uptime, especially in environments where failures may result in serious consequences.