Description

User space processes can be debugged using gdb. With gdb you can

   single-step,
   stop,
   resume,
   put break-points,
   inspect memory and variables,
   look through call stack information

What if we can use gdb on running Linux Kernel.

Problem:

How can a gdb debug running kernel as it is just a user space process.

Solution:

Client/Server Architecture

User space programs can be debugged remotely using the combination of gdbserver on the target machine and gdb on the host machine/development machine.

The Linux kernel has a GDB Server implementation called KGDB. It communicates with a GDB client over network or serial port connection

In this course we will learn:

   How to setup KGDB
   Various ways of getting the target into development machine
   Setting Breakpoints
   Printing and Setting Variables
   Using a single serial port for both kgdb and console messages
   Getting the kernel messages in gdb window
   Debugging Linux Kernel Modules (In-Tree, out of tree)
   Use of GDB Scripts present in the Linux Kernel

Who this course is for:

   Kernel developers interested to learn various debugging techniques

Requirements

   Should have basic knowledge of Linux Kernel

Last Updated 1/2021