Debugging Linux Kernel in Deep – Part 2

What you’ll learn
Debugging Linux Kernel Using KGDB
KGDB on Raspberry Pi3
Requirements
Should have basic knowledge of Linux Kernel
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