Using Serial kdb / kgdb to Debug the Linux Kernel

The Linux kernel has had an in-kernel debugger for many years, but shockingly few people are setup to use it. In this tutorial I will demonstrate how to use kgdb for debugging kernel crashes on system …

The Linux kernel has had an in-kernel debugger for many years, but shockingly few people are setup to use it. In this tutorial I will demonstrate how to use kgdb for debugging kernel crashes on systems that have a serial port. As part of this session I will show how to get kgdb setup, how to drop into the debugger, and how to debug several simulated bugs in the kernel.The focus on the session will be on after-the-crash debugging rather than using kgdb to step through code.This session should be useful to developers at all levels from kernel noobs to developers with years under their belts.