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Diffstat (limited to 'Documentation/frv/gdbstub.txt')
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diff --git a/Documentation/frv/gdbstub.txt b/Documentation/frv/gdbstub.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000000..b92bfd902a4 --- /dev/null +++ b/Documentation/frv/gdbstub.txt @@ -0,0 +1,130 @@ + ==================== + DEBUGGING FR-V LINUX + ==================== + + +The kernel contains a GDB stub that talks GDB remote protocol across a serial +port. This permits GDB to single step through the kernel, set breakpoints and +trap exceptions that happen in kernel space and interrupt execution. It also +permits the NMI interrupt button or serial port events to jump the kernel into +the debugger. + +On the CPUs that have on-chip UARTs (FR400, FR403, FR405, FR555), the +GDB stub hijacks a serial port for its own purposes, and makes it +generate level 15 interrupts (NMI). The kernel proper cannot see the serial +port in question under these conditions. + +On the MB93091-VDK CPU boards, the GDB stub uses UART1, which would otherwise +be /dev/ttyS1. On the MB93093-PDK, the GDB stub uses UART0. Therefore, on the +PDK there is no externally accessible serial port and the serial port to +which the touch screen is attached becomes /dev/ttyS0. + +Note that the GDB stub runs entirely within CPU debug mode, and so should not +incur any exceptions or interrupts whilst it is active. In particular, note +that the clock will lose time since it is implemented in software. + + +================== +KERNEL PREPARATION +================== + +Firstly, a debuggable kernel must be built. To do this, unpack the kernel tree +and copy the configuration that you wish to use to .config. Then reconfigure +the following things on the "Kernel Hacking" tab: + + (*) "Include debugging information" + + Set this to "Y". This causes all C and Assembly files to be compiled + to include debugging information. + + (*) "In-kernel GDB stub" + + Set this to "Y". This causes the GDB stub to be compiled into the + kernel. + + (*) "Immediate activation" + + Set this to "Y" if you want the GDB stub to activate as soon as possible + and wait for GDB to connect. This allows you to start tracing right from + the beginning of start_kernel() in init/main.c. + + (*) "Console through GDB stub" + + Set this to "Y" if you wish to be able to use "console=gdb0" on the + command line. That tells the kernel to pass system console messages to + GDB (which then prints them on its standard output). This is useful when + debugging the serial drivers that'd otherwise be used to pass console + messages to the outside world. + +Then build as usual, download to the board and execute. Note that if +"Immediate activation" was selected, then the kernel will wait for GDB to +attach. If not, then the kernel will boot immediately and GDB will have to +interrupt it or wait for an exception to occur before doing anything with +the kernel. + + +========================= +KERNEL DEBUGGING WITH GDB +========================= + +Set the serial port on the computer that's going to run GDB to the appropriate +baud rate. Assuming the board's debug port is connected to ttyS0/COM1 on the +computer doing the debugging: + + stty -F /dev/ttyS0 115200 + +Then start GDB in the base of the kernel tree: + + frv-uclinux-gdb linux [uClinux] + +Or: + + frv-uclinux-gdb vmlinux [MMU linux] + +When the prompt appears: + + GNU gdb frv-031024 + Copyright 2003 Free Software Foundation, Inc. + GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License, and you are + welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it under certain conditions. + Type "show copying" to see the conditions. + There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty" for details. + This GDB was configured as "--host=i686-pc-linux-gnu --target=frv-uclinux"... + (gdb) + +Attach to the board like this: + + (gdb) target remote /dev/ttyS0 + Remote debugging using /dev/ttyS0 + start_kernel () at init/main.c:395 + (gdb) + +This should show the appropriate lines from the source too. The kernel can +then be debugged almost as if it's any other program. + + +=============================== +INTERRUPTING THE RUNNING KERNEL +=============================== + +The kernel can be interrupted whilst it is running, causing a jump back to the +GDB stub and the debugger: + + (*) Pressing Ctrl-C in GDB. This will cause GDB to try and interrupt the + kernel by sending an RS232 BREAK over the serial line to the GDB + stub. This will (mostly) immediately interrupt the kernel and return it + to the debugger. + + (*) Pressing the NMI button on the board will also cause a jump into the + debugger. + + (*) Setting a software breakpoint. This sets a break instruction at the + desired location which the GDB stub then traps the exception for. + + (*) Setting a hardware breakpoint. The GDB stub is capable of using the IBAR + and DBAR registers to assist debugging. + +Furthermore, the GDB stub will intercept a number of exceptions automatically +if they are caused by kernel execution. It will also intercept BUG() macro +invocation. + |