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-This is Info file ./gdb.info, produced by Makeinfo version 1.68 from
-the input file gdb.texinfo.
-
-START-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
-* Gdb: (gdb). The GNU debugger.
-END-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
- This file documents the GNU debugger GDB.
-
- This is the Seventh Edition, February 1999, of `Debugging with GDB:
-the GNU Source-Level Debugger' for GDB Version 4.18.
-
- Copyright (C) 1988-1999 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
-
- Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of this
-manual provided the copyright notice and this permission notice are
-preserved on all copies.
-
- Permission is granted to copy and distribute modified versions of
-this manual under the conditions for verbatim copying, provided also
-that the entire resulting derived work is distributed under the terms
-of a permission notice identical to this one.
-
- Permission is granted to copy and distribute translations of this
-manual into another language, under the above conditions for modified
-versions.
-
-
-File: gdb.info, Node: Files, Next: Symbol Errors, Prev: GDB Files, Up: GDB Files
-
-Commands to specify files
-=========================
-
- You may want to specify executable and core dump file names. The
-usual way to do this is at start-up time, using the arguments to GDB's
-start-up commands (*note Getting In and Out of GDB: Invocation.).
-
- Occasionally it is necessary to change to a different file during a
-GDB session. Or you may run GDB and forget to specify a file you want
-to use. In these situations the GDB commands to specify new files are
-useful.
-
-`file FILENAME'
- Use FILENAME as the program to be debugged. It is read for its
- symbols and for the contents of pure memory. It is also the
- program executed when you use the `run' command. If you do not
- specify a directory and the file is not found in the GDB working
- directory, GDB uses the environment variable `PATH' as a list of
- directories to search, just as the shell does when looking for a
- program to run. You can change the value of this variable, for
- both GDB and your program, using the `path' command.
-
- On systems with memory-mapped files, an auxiliary file
- `FILENAME.syms' may hold symbol table information for FILENAME.
- If so, GDB maps in the symbol table from `FILENAME.syms', starting
- up more quickly. See the descriptions of the file options
- `-mapped' and `-readnow' (available on the command line, and with
- the commands `file', `symbol-file', or `add-symbol-file',
- described below), for more information.
-
-`file'
- `file' with no argument makes GDB discard any information it has
- on both executable file and the symbol table.
-
-`exec-file [ FILENAME ]'
- Specify that the program to be run (but not the symbol table) is
- found in FILENAME. GDB searches the environment variable `PATH'
- if necessary to locate your program. Omitting FILENAME means to
- discard information on the executable file.
-
-`symbol-file [ FILENAME ]'
- Read symbol table information from file FILENAME. `PATH' is
- searched when necessary. Use the `file' command to get both symbol
- table and program to run from the same file.
-
- `symbol-file' with no argument clears out GDB information on your
- program's symbol table.
-
- The `symbol-file' command causes GDB to forget the contents of its
- convenience variables, the value history, and all breakpoints and
- auto-display expressions. This is because they may contain
- pointers to the internal data recording symbols and data types,
- which are part of the old symbol table data being discarded inside
- GDB.
-
- `symbol-file' does not repeat if you press <RET> again after
- executing it once.
-
- When GDB is configured for a particular environment, it
- understands debugging information in whatever format is the
- standard generated for that environment; you may use either a GNU
- compiler, or other compilers that adhere to the local conventions.
- Best results are usually obtained from GNU compilers; for example,
- using `gcc' you can generate debugging information for optimized
- code.
-
- For most kinds of object files, with the exception of old SVR3
- systems using COFF, the `symbol-file' command does not normally
- read the symbol table in full right away. Instead, it scans the
- symbol table quickly to find which source files and which symbols
- are present. The details are read later, one source file at a
- time, as they are needed.
-
- The purpose of this two-stage reading strategy is to make GDB
- start up faster. For the most part, it is invisible except for
- occasional pauses while the symbol table details for a particular
- source file are being read. (The `set verbose' command can turn
- these pauses into messages if desired. *Note Optional warnings
- and messages: Messages/Warnings.)
-
- We have not implemented the two-stage strategy for COFF yet. When
- the symbol table is stored in COFF format, `symbol-file' reads the
- symbol table data in full right away. Note that "stabs-in-COFF"
- still does the two-stage strategy, since the debug info is actually
- in stabs format.
-
-`symbol-file FILENAME [ -readnow ] [ -mapped ]'
-`file FILENAME [ -readnow ] [ -mapped ]'
- You can override the GDB two-stage strategy for reading symbol
- tables by using the `-readnow' option with any of the commands that
- load symbol table information, if you want to be sure GDB has the
- entire symbol table available.
-
- If memory-mapped files are available on your system through the
- `mmap' system call, you can use another option, `-mapped', to
- cause GDB to write the symbols for your program into a reusable
- file. Future GDB debugging sessions map in symbol information
- from this auxiliary symbol file (if the program has not changed),
- rather than spending time reading the symbol table from the
- executable program. Using the `-mapped' option has the same
- effect as starting GDB with the `-mapped' command-line option.
-
- You can use both options together, to make sure the auxiliary
- symbol file has all the symbol information for your program.
-
- The auxiliary symbol file for a program called MYPROG is called
- `MYPROG.syms'. Once this file exists (so long as it is newer than
- the corresponding executable), GDB always attempts to use it when
- you debug MYPROG; no special options or commands are needed.
-
- The `.syms' file is specific to the host machine where you run
- GDB. It holds an exact image of the internal GDB symbol table.
- It cannot be shared across multiple host platforms.
-
-`core-file [ FILENAME ]'
- Specify the whereabouts of a core dump file to be used as the
- "contents of memory". Traditionally, core files contain only some
- parts of the address space of the process that generated them; GDB
- can access the executable file itself for other parts.
-
- `core-file' with no argument specifies that no core file is to be
- used.
-
- Note that the core file is ignored when your program is actually
- running under GDB. So, if you have been running your program and
- you wish to debug a core file instead, you must kill the
- subprocess in which the program is running. To do this, use the
- `kill' command (*note Killing the child process: Kill Process.).
-
-`add-symbol-file FILENAME ADDRESS'
-`add-symbol-file FILENAME ADDRESS [ -readnow ] [ -mapped ]'
- The `add-symbol-file' command reads additional symbol table
- information from the file FILENAME. You would use this command
- when FILENAME has been dynamically loaded (by some other means)
- into the program that is running. ADDRESS should be the memory
- address at which the file has been loaded; GDB cannot figure this
- out for itself. You can specify ADDRESS as an expression.
-
- The symbol table of the file FILENAME is added to the symbol table
- originally read with the `symbol-file' command. You can use the
- `add-symbol-file' command any number of times; the new symbol data
- thus read keeps adding to the old. To discard all old symbol data
- instead, use the `symbol-file' command.
-
- `add-symbol-file' does not repeat if you press <RET> after using
- it.
-
- You can use the `-mapped' and `-readnow' options just as with the
- `symbol-file' command, to change how GDB manages the symbol table
- information for FILENAME.
-
-`add-shared-symbol-file'
- The `add-shared-symbol-file' command can be used only under
- Harris' CXUX operating system for the Motorola 88k. GDB
- automatically looks for shared libraries, however if GDB does not
- find yours, you can run `add-shared-symbol-file'. It takes no
- arguments.
-
-`section'
- The `section' command changes the base address of section SECTION
- of the exec file to ADDR. This can be used if the exec file does
- not contain section addresses, (such as in the a.out format), or
- when the addresses specified in the file itself are wrong. Each
- section must be changed separately. The "info files" command
- lists all the sections and their addresses.
-
-`info files'
-`info target'
- `info files' and `info target' are synonymous; both print the
- current target (*note Specifying a Debugging Target: Targets.),
- including the names of the executable and core dump files
- currently in use by GDB, and the files from which symbols were
- loaded. The command `help target' lists all possible targets
- rather than current ones.
-
- All file-specifying commands allow both absolute and relative file
-names as arguments. GDB always converts the file name to an absolute
-file name and remembers it that way.
-
- GDB supports HP-UX, SunOS, SVr4, Irix 5, and IBM RS/6000 shared
-libraries. GDB automatically loads symbol definitions from shared
-libraries when you use the `run' command, or when you examine a core
-file. (Before you issue the `run' command, GDB does not understand
-references to a function in a shared library, however--unless you are
-debugging a core file).
-
-`info share'
-`info sharedlibrary'
- Print the names of the shared libraries which are currently loaded.
-
-`sharedlibrary REGEX'
-`share REGEX'
- Load shared object library symbols for files matching a Unix
- regular expression. As with files loaded automatically, it only
- loads shared libraries required by your program for a core file or
- after typing `run'. If REGEX is omitted all shared libraries
- required by your program are loaded.
-
-
-File: gdb.info, Node: Symbol Errors, Prev: Files, Up: GDB Files
-
-Errors reading symbol files
-===========================
-
- While reading a symbol file, GDB occasionally encounters problems,
-such as symbol types it does not recognize, or known bugs in compiler
-output. By default, GDB does not notify you of such problems, since
-they are relatively common and primarily of interest to people
-debugging compilers. If you are interested in seeing information about
-ill-constructed symbol tables, you can either ask GDB to print only one
-message about each such type of problem, no matter how many times the
-problem occurs; or you can ask GDB to print more messages, to see how
-many times the problems occur, with the `set complaints' command (*note
-Optional warnings and messages: Messages/Warnings.).
-
- The messages currently printed, and their meanings, include:
-
-`inner block not inside outer block in SYMBOL'
- The symbol information shows where symbol scopes begin and end
- (such as at the start of a function or a block of statements).
- This error indicates that an inner scope block is not fully
- contained in its outer scope blocks.
-
- GDB circumvents the problem by treating the inner block as if it
- had the same scope as the outer block. In the error message,
- SYMBOL may be shown as "`(don't know)'" if the outer block is not a
- function.
-
-`block at ADDRESS out of order'
- The symbol information for symbol scope blocks should occur in
- order of increasing addresses. This error indicates that it does
- not do so.
-
- GDB does not circumvent this problem, and has trouble locating
- symbols in the source file whose symbols it is reading. (You can
- often determine what source file is affected by specifying `set
- verbose on'. *Note Optional warnings and messages:
- Messages/Warnings.)
-
-`bad block start address patched'
- The symbol information for a symbol scope block has a start address
- smaller than the address of the preceding source line. This is
- known to occur in the SunOS 4.1.1 (and earlier) C compiler.
-
- GDB circumvents the problem by treating the symbol scope block as
- starting on the previous source line.
-
-`bad string table offset in symbol N'
- Symbol number N contains a pointer into the string table which is
- larger than the size of the string table.
-
- GDB circumvents the problem by considering the symbol to have the
- name `foo', which may cause other problems if many symbols end up
- with this name.
-
-`unknown symbol type `0xNN''
- The symbol information contains new data types that GDB does not
- yet know how to read. `0xNN' is the symbol type of the
- misunderstood information, in hexadecimal.
-
- GDB circumvents the error by ignoring this symbol information.
- This usually allows you to debug your program, though certain
- symbols are not accessible. If you encounter such a problem and
- feel like debugging it, you can debug `gdb' with itself,
- breakpoint on `complain', then go up to the function
- `read_dbx_symtab' and examine `*bufp' to see the symbol.
-
-`stub type has NULL name'
- GDB could not find the full definition for a struct or class.
-
-`const/volatile indicator missing (ok if using g++ v1.x), got...'
- The symbol information for a C++ member function is missing some
- information that recent versions of the compiler should have output
- for it.
-
-`info mismatch between compiler and debugger'
- GDB could not parse a type specification output by the compiler.
-
-
-File: gdb.info, Node: Targets, Next: Controlling GDB, Prev: GDB Files, Up: Top
-
-Specifying a Debugging Target
-*****************************
-
- A "target" is the execution environment occupied by your program.
-Often, GDB runs in the same host environment as your program; in that
-case, the debugging target is specified as a side effect when you use
-the `file' or `core' commands. When you need more flexibility--for
-example, running GDB on a physically separate host, or controlling a
-standalone system over a serial port or a realtime system over a TCP/IP
-connection--you can use the `target' command to specify one of the
-target types configured for GDB (*note Commands for managing targets:
-Target Commands.).
-
-* Menu:
-
-* Active Targets:: Active targets
-* Target Commands:: Commands for managing targets
-
-* Byte Order:: Choosing target byte order
-* Remote:: Remote debugging
-
-
-File: gdb.info, Node: Active Targets, Next: Target Commands, Prev: Targets, Up: Targets
-
-Active targets
-==============
-
- There are three classes of targets: processes, core files, and
-executable files. GDB can work concurrently on up to three active
-targets, one in each class. This allows you to (for example) start a
-process and inspect its activity without abandoning your work on a core
-file.
-
- For example, if you execute `gdb a.out', then the executable file
-`a.out' is the only active target. If you designate a core file as
-well--presumably from a prior run that crashed and coredumped--then GDB
-has two active targets and uses them in tandem, looking first in the
-corefile target, then in the executable file, to satisfy requests for
-memory addresses. (Typically, these two classes of target are
-complementary, since core files contain only a program's read-write
-memory--variables and so on--plus machine status, while executable
-files contain only the program text and initialized data.)
-
- When you type `run', your executable file becomes an active process
-target as well. When a process target is active, all GDB commands
-requesting memory addresses refer to that target; addresses in an
-active core file or executable file target are obscured while the
-process target is active.
-
- Use the `core-file' and `exec-file' commands to select a new core
-file or executable target (*note Commands to specify files: Files.).
-To specify as a target a process that is already running, use the
-`attach' command (*note Debugging an already-running process: Attach.).
-
-
-File: gdb.info, Node: Target Commands, Next: Byte Order, Prev: Active Targets, Up: Targets
-
-Commands for managing targets
-=============================
-
-`target TYPE PARAMETERS'
- Connects the GDB host environment to a target machine or process.
- A target is typically a protocol for talking to debugging
- facilities. You use the argument TYPE to specify the type or
- protocol of the target machine.
-
- Further PARAMETERS are interpreted by the target protocol, but
- typically include things like device names or host names to connect
- with, process numbers, and baud rates.
-
- The `target' command does not repeat if you press <RET> again
- after executing the command.
-
-`help target'
- Displays the names of all targets available. To display targets
- currently selected, use either `info target' or `info files'
- (*note Commands to specify files: Files.).
-
-`help target NAME'
- Describe a particular target, including any parameters necessary to
- select it.
-
-`set gnutarget ARGS'
- GDB uses its own library BFD to read your files. GDB knows
- whether it is reading an "executable", a "core", or a ".o" file;
- however, you can specify the file format with the `set gnutarget'
- command. Unlike most `target' commands, with `gnutarget' the
- `target' refers to a program, not a machine.
-
- *Warning:* To specify a file format with `set gnutarget', you must
- know the actual BFD name.
-
- *Note Commands to specify files: Files.
-
-`show gnutarget'
- Use the `show gnutarget' command to display what file format
- `gnutarget' is set to read. If you have not set `gnutarget', GDB
- will determine the file format for each file automatically, and
- `show gnutarget' displays `The current BDF target is "auto"'.
-
- Here are some common targets (available, or not, depending on the GDB
-configuration):
-
-`target exec PROGRAM'
- An executable file. `target exec PROGRAM' is the same as
- `exec-file PROGRAM'.
-
-`target core FILENAME'
- A core dump file. `target core FILENAME' is the same as
- `core-file FILENAME'.
-
-`target remote DEV'
- Remote serial target in GDB-specific protocol. The argument DEV
- specifies what serial device to use for the connection (e.g.
- `/dev/ttya'). *Note Remote debugging: Remote. `target remote' now
- supports the `load' command. This is only useful if you have some
- other way of getting the stub to the target system, and you can put
- it somewhere in memory where it won't get clobbered by the
- download.
-
-`target sim'
- CPU simulator. *Note Simulated CPU Target: Simulator.
-
- The following targets are all CPU-specific, and only available for
-specific configurations.
-
-`target abug DEV'
- ABug ROM monitor for M68K.
-
-`target adapt DEV'
- Adapt monitor for A29K.
-
-`target amd-eb DEV SPEED PROG'
- Remote PC-resident AMD EB29K board, attached over serial lines.
- DEV is the serial device, as for `target remote'; SPEED allows you
- to specify the linespeed; and PROG is the name of the program to
- be debugged, as it appears to DOS on the PC. *Note The EBMON
- protocol for AMD29K: EB29K Remote.
-
-`target array DEV'
- Array Tech LSI33K RAID controller board.
-
-`target bug DEV'
- BUG monitor, running on a MVME187 (m88k) board.
-
-`target cpu32bug DEV'
- CPU32BUG monitor, running on a CPU32 (M68K) board.
-
-`target dbug DEV'
- dBUG ROM monitor for Motorola ColdFire.
-
-`target ddb DEV'
- NEC's DDB monitor for Mips Vr4300.
-
-`target dink32 DEV'
- DINK32 ROM monitor for PowerPC.
-
-`target e7000 DEV'
- E7000 emulator for Hitachi H8 and SH.
-
-`target es1800 DEV'
- ES-1800 emulator for M68K.
-
-`target est DEV'
- EST-300 ICE monitor, running on a CPU32 (M68K) board.
-
-`target hms DEV'
- A Hitachi SH, H8/300, or H8/500 board, attached via serial line to
- your host. Use special commands `device' and `speed' to control
- the serial line and the communications speed used. *Note GDB and
- Hitachi Microprocessors: Hitachi Remote.
-
-`target lsi DEV'
- LSI ROM monitor for Mips.
-
-`target m32r DEV'
- Mitsubishi M32R/D ROM monitor.
-
-`target mips DEV'
- IDT/SIM ROM monitor for Mips.
-
-`target mon960 DEV'
- MON960 monitor for Intel i960.
-
-`target nindy DEVICENAME'
- An Intel 960 board controlled by a Nindy Monitor. DEVICENAME is
- the name of the serial device to use for the connection, e.g.
- `/dev/ttya'. *Note GDB with a remote i960 (Nindy): i960-Nindy
- Remote.
-
-`target nrom DEV'
- NetROM ROM emulator. This target only supports downloading.
-
-`target op50n DEV'
- OP50N monitor, running on an OKI HPPA board.
-
-`target pmon DEV'
- PMON ROM monitor for Mips.
-
-`target ppcbug DEV'
-
-`target ppcbug1 DEV'
- PPCBUG ROM monitor for PowerPC.
-
-`target r3900 DEV'
- Densan DVE-R3900 ROM monitor for Toshiba R3900 Mips.
-
-`target rdi DEV'
- ARM Angel monitor, via RDI library interface.
-
-`target rdp DEV'
- ARM Demon monitor.
-
-`target rom68k DEV'
- ROM 68K monitor, running on an M68K IDP board.
-
-`target rombug DEV'
- ROMBUG ROM monitor for OS/9000.
-
-`target sds DEV'
- SDS monitor, running on a PowerPC board (such as Motorola's ADS).
-
-`target sparclite DEV'
- Fujitsu sparclite boards, used only for the purpose of loading.
- You must use an additional command to debug the program. For
- example: target remote DEV using GDB standard remote protocol.
-
-`target sh3 DEV'
-
-`target sh3e DEV'
- Hitachi SH-3 and SH-3E target systems.
-
-`target st2000 DEV SPEED'
- A Tandem ST2000 phone switch, running Tandem's STDBUG protocol.
- DEV is the name of the device attached to the ST2000 serial line;
- SPEED is the communication line speed. The arguments are not used
- if GDB is configured to connect to the ST2000 using TCP or Telnet.
- *Note GDB with a Tandem ST2000: ST2000 Remote.
-
-`target udi KEYWORD'
- Remote AMD29K target, using the AMD UDI protocol. The KEYWORD
- argument specifies which 29K board or simulator to use. *Note The
- UDI protocol for AMD29K: UDI29K Remote.
-
-`target vxworks MACHINENAME'
- A VxWorks system, attached via TCP/IP. The argument MACHINENAME
- is the target system's machine name or IP address. *Note GDB and
- VxWorks: VxWorks Remote.
-
-`target w89k DEV'
- W89K monitor, running on a Winbond HPPA board.
-
- Different targets are available on different configurations of GDB;
-your configuration may have more or fewer targets.
-
- Many remote targets require you to download the executable's code
-once you've successfully established a connection.
-
-`load FILENAME'
- Depending on what remote debugging facilities are configured into
- GDB, the `load' command may be available. Where it exists, it is
- meant to make FILENAME (an executable) available for debugging on
- the remote system--by downloading, or dynamic linking, for example.
- `load' also records the FILENAME symbol table in GDB, like the
- `add-symbol-file' command.
-
- If your GDB does not have a `load' command, attempting to execute
- it gets the error message "`You can't do that when your target is
- ...'"
-
- The file is loaded at whatever address is specified in the
- executable. For some object file formats, you can specify the
- load address when you link the program; for other formats, like
- a.out, the object file format specifies a fixed address.
-
- On VxWorks, `load' links FILENAME dynamically on the current
- target system as well as adding its symbols in GDB.
-
- With the Nindy interface to an Intel 960 board, `load' downloads
- FILENAME to the 960 as well as adding its symbols in GDB.
-
- When you select remote debugging to a Hitachi SH, H8/300, or
- H8/500 board (*note GDB and Hitachi Microprocessors: Hitachi
- Remote.), the `load' command downloads your program to the Hitachi
- board and also opens it as the current executable target for GDB
- on your host (like the `file' command).
-
- `load' does not repeat if you press <RET> again after using it.
-
-
-File: gdb.info, Node: Byte Order, Next: Remote, Prev: Target Commands, Up: Targets
-
-Choosing target byte order
-==========================
-
- Some types of processors, such as the MIPS, PowerPC, and Hitachi SH,
-offer the ability to run either big-endian or little-endian byte
-orders. Usually the executable or symbol will include a bit to
-designate the endian-ness, and you will not need to worry about which
-to use. However, you may still find it useful to adjust GDB's idea of
-processor endian-ness manually.
-
-`set endian big'
- Instruct GDB to assume the target is big-endian.
-
-`set endian little'
- Instruct GDB to assume the target is little-endian.
-
-`set endian auto'
- Instruct GDB to use the byte order associated with the executable.
-
-`show endian'
- Display GDB's current idea of the target byte order.
-
- Note that these commands merely adjust interpretation of symbolic
-data on the host, and that they have absolutely no effect on the target
-system.
-
-
-File: gdb.info, Node: Remote, Prev: Byte Order, Up: Targets
-
-Remote debugging
-================
-
- If you are trying to debug a program running on a machine that
-cannot run GDB in the usual way, it is often useful to use remote
-debugging. For example, you might use remote debugging on an operating
-system kernel, or on a small system which does not have a general
-purpose operating system powerful enough to run a full-featured
-debugger.
-
- Some configurations of GDB have special serial or TCP/IP interfaces
-to make this work with particular debugging targets. In addition, GDB
-comes with a generic serial protocol (specific to GDB, but not specific
-to any particular target system) which you can use if you write the
-remote stubs--the code that runs on the remote system to communicate
-with GDB.
-
- Other remote targets may be available in your configuration of GDB;
-use `help target' to list them.
-
-* Menu:
-
-
-* Remote Serial:: GDB remote serial protocol
-
-* i960-Nindy Remote:: GDB with a remote i960 (Nindy)
-
-* UDI29K Remote:: The UDI protocol for AMD29K
-* EB29K Remote:: The EBMON protocol for AMD29K
-
-* VxWorks Remote:: GDB and VxWorks
-
-* ST2000 Remote:: GDB with a Tandem ST2000
-
-* Hitachi Remote:: GDB and Hitachi Microprocessors
-
-* MIPS Remote:: GDB and MIPS boards
-
-* Sparclet Remote:: GDB and Sparclet boards
-
-* Simulator:: Simulated CPU target
-
-
-File: gdb.info, Node: Remote Serial, Next: i960-Nindy Remote, Up: Remote
-
-The GDB remote serial protocol
-------------------------------
-
- To debug a program running on another machine (the debugging
-"target" machine), you must first arrange for all the usual
-prerequisites for the program to run by itself. For example, for a C
-program, you need:
-
- 1. A startup routine to set up the C runtime environment; these
- usually have a name like `crt0'. The startup routine may be
- supplied by your hardware supplier, or you may have to write your
- own.
-
- 2. You probably need a C subroutine library to support your program's
- subroutine calls, notably managing input and output.
-
- 3. A way of getting your program to the other machine--for example, a
- download program. These are often supplied by the hardware
- manufacturer, but you may have to write your own from hardware
- documentation.
-
- The next step is to arrange for your program to use a serial port to
-communicate with the machine where GDB is running (the "host" machine).
-In general terms, the scheme looks like this:
-
-*On the host,*
- GDB already understands how to use this protocol; when everything
- else is set up, you can simply use the `target remote' command
- (*note Specifying a Debugging Target: Targets.).
-
-*On the target,*
- you must link with your program a few special-purpose subroutines
- that implement the GDB remote serial protocol. The file
- containing these subroutines is called a "debugging stub".
-
- On certain remote targets, you can use an auxiliary program
- `gdbserver' instead of linking a stub into your program. *Note
- Using the `gdbserver' program: Server, for details.
-
- The debugging stub is specific to the architecture of the remote
-machine; for example, use `sparc-stub.c' to debug programs on SPARC
-boards.
-
- These working remote stubs are distributed with GDB:
-
-`i386-stub.c'
- For Intel 386 and compatible architectures.
-
-`m68k-stub.c'
- For Motorola 680x0 architectures.
-
-`sh-stub.c'
- For Hitachi SH architectures.
-
-`sparc-stub.c'
- For SPARC architectures.
-
-`sparcl-stub.c'
- For Fujitsu SPARCLITE architectures.
-
- The `README' file in the GDB distribution may list other recently
-added stubs.
-
-* Menu:
-
-* Stub Contents:: What the stub can do for you
-* Bootstrapping:: What you must do for the stub
-* Debug Session:: Putting it all together
-* Protocol:: Outline of the communication protocol
-
-* Server:: Using the `gdbserver' program
-
-* NetWare:: Using the `gdbserve.nlm' program
-
-
-File: gdb.info, Node: Stub Contents, Next: Bootstrapping, Up: Remote Serial
-
-What the stub can do for you
-............................
-
- The debugging stub for your architecture supplies these three
-subroutines:
-
-`set_debug_traps'
- This routine arranges for `handle_exception' to run when your
- program stops. You must call this subroutine explicitly near the
- beginning of your program.
-
-`handle_exception'
- This is the central workhorse, but your program never calls it
- explicitly--the setup code arranges for `handle_exception' to run
- when a trap is triggered.
-
- `handle_exception' takes control when your program stops during
- execution (for example, on a breakpoint), and mediates
- communications with GDB on the host machine. This is where the
- communications protocol is implemented; `handle_exception' acts as
- the GDB representative on the target machine; it begins by sending
- summary information on the state of your program, then continues
- to execute, retrieving and transmitting any information GDB needs,
- until you execute a GDB command that makes your program resume; at
- that point, `handle_exception' returns control to your own code on
- the target machine.
-
-`breakpoint'
- Use this auxiliary subroutine to make your program contain a
- breakpoint. Depending on the particular situation, this may be
- the only way for GDB to get control. For instance, if your target
- machine has some sort of interrupt button, you won't need to call
- this; pressing the interrupt button transfers control to
- `handle_exception'--in effect, to GDB. On some machines, simply
- receiving characters on the serial port may also trigger a trap;
- again, in that situation, you don't need to call `breakpoint' from
- your own program--simply running `target remote' from the host GDB
- session gets control.
-
- Call `breakpoint' if none of these is true, or if you simply want
- to make certain your program stops at a predetermined point for the
- start of your debugging session.
-
-
-File: gdb.info, Node: Bootstrapping, Next: Debug Session, Prev: Stub Contents, Up: Remote Serial
-
-What you must do for the stub
-.............................
-
- The debugging stubs that come with GDB are set up for a particular
-chip architecture, but they have no information about the rest of your
-debugging target machine.
-
- First of all you need to tell the stub how to communicate with the
-serial port.
-
-`int getDebugChar()'
- Write this subroutine to read a single character from the serial
- port. It may be identical to `getchar' for your target system; a
- different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you
- wish.
-
-`void putDebugChar(int)'
- Write this subroutine to write a single character to the serial
- port. It may be identical to `putchar' for your target system; a
- different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you
- wish.
-
- If you want GDB to be able to stop your program while it is running,
-you need to use an interrupt-driven serial driver, and arrange for it
-to stop when it receives a `^C' (`\003', the control-C character).
-That is the character which GDB uses to tell the remote system to stop.
-
- Getting the debugging target to return the proper status to GDB
-probably requires changes to the standard stub; one quick and dirty way
-is to just execute a breakpoint instruction (the "dirty" part is that
-GDB reports a `SIGTRAP' instead of a `SIGINT').
-
- Other routines you need to supply are:
-
-`void exceptionHandler (int EXCEPTION_NUMBER, void *EXCEPTION_ADDRESS)'
- Write this function to install EXCEPTION_ADDRESS in the exception
- handling tables. You need to do this because the stub does not
- have any way of knowing what the exception handling tables on your
- target system are like (for example, the processor's table might
- be in ROM, containing entries which point to a table in RAM).
- EXCEPTION_NUMBER is the exception number which should be changed;
- its meaning is architecture-dependent (for example, different
- numbers might represent divide by zero, misaligned access, etc).
- When this exception occurs, control should be transferred directly
- to EXCEPTION_ADDRESS, and the processor state (stack, registers,
- and so on) should be just as it is when a processor exception
- occurs. So if you want to use a jump instruction to reach
- EXCEPTION_ADDRESS, it should be a simple jump, not a jump to
- subroutine.
-
- For the 386, EXCEPTION_ADDRESS should be installed as an interrupt
- gate so that interrupts are masked while the handler runs. The
- gate should be at privilege level 0 (the most privileged level).
- The SPARC and 68k stubs are able to mask interrup themselves
- without help from `exceptionHandler'.
-
-`void flush_i_cache()'
- (sparc and sparclite only) Write this subroutine to flush the
- instruction cache, if any, on your target machine. If there is no
- instruction cache, this subroutine may be a no-op.
-
- On target machines that have instruction caches, GDB requires this
- function to make certain that the state of your program is stable.
-
-You must also make sure this library routine is available:
-
-`void *memset(void *, int, int)'
- This is the standard library function `memset' that sets an area of
- memory to a known value. If you have one of the free versions of
- `libc.a', `memset' can be found there; otherwise, you must either
- obtain it from your hardware manufacturer, or write your own.
-
- If you do not use the GNU C compiler, you may need other standard
-library subroutines as well; this varies from one stub to another, but
-in general the stubs are likely to use any of the common library
-subroutines which `gcc' generates as inline code.
-
-
-File: gdb.info, Node: Debug Session, Next: Protocol, Prev: Bootstrapping, Up: Remote Serial
-
-Putting it all together
-.......................
-
- In summary, when your program is ready to debug, you must follow
-these steps.
-
- 1. Make sure you have the supporting low-level routines (*note What
- you must do for the stub: Bootstrapping.):
- `getDebugChar', `putDebugChar',
- `flush_i_cache', `memset', `exceptionHandler'.
-
- 2. Insert these lines near the top of your program:
-
- set_debug_traps();
- breakpoint();
-
- 3. For the 680x0 stub only, you need to provide a variable called
- `exceptionHook'. Normally you just use:
-
- void (*exceptionHook)() = 0;
-
- but if before calling `set_debug_traps', you set it to point to a
- function in your program, that function is called when `GDB'
- continues after stopping on a trap (for example, bus error). The
- function indicated by `exceptionHook' is called with one
- parameter: an `int' which is the exception number.
-
- 4. Compile and link together: your program, the GDB debugging stub for
- your target architecture, and the supporting subroutines.
-
- 5. Make sure you have a serial connection between your target machine
- and the GDB host, and identify the serial port on the host.
-
- 6. Download your program to your target machine (or get it there by
- whatever means the manufacturer provides), and start it.
-
- 7. To start remote debugging, run GDB on the host machine, and specify
- as an executable file the program that is running in the remote
- machine. This tells GDB how to find your program's symbols and
- the contents of its pure text.
-
- Then establish communication using the `target remote' command.
- Its argument specifies how to communicate with the target
- machine--either via a devicename attached to a direct serial line,
- or a TCP port (usually to a terminal server which in turn has a
- serial line to the target). For example, to use a serial line
- connected to the device named `/dev/ttyb':
-
- target remote /dev/ttyb
-
- To use a TCP connection, use an argument of the form `HOST:port'.
- For example, to connect to port 2828 on a terminal server named
- `manyfarms':
-
- target remote manyfarms:2828
-
- Now you can use all the usual commands to examine and change data
-and to step and continue the remote program.
-
- To resume the remote program and stop debugging it, use the `detach'
-command.
-
- Whenever GDB is waiting for the remote program, if you type the
-interrupt character (often <C-C>), GDB attempts to stop the program.
-This may or may not succeed, depending in part on the hardware and the
-serial drivers the remote system uses. If you type the interrupt
-character once again, GDB displays this prompt:
-
- Interrupted while waiting for the program.
- Give up (and stop debugging it)? (y or n)
-
- If you type `y', GDB abandons the remote debugging session. (If you
-decide you want to try again later, you can use `target remote' again
-to connect once more.) If you type `n', GDB goes back to waiting.
-
-
-File: gdb.info, Node: Protocol, Next: Server, Prev: Debug Session, Up: Remote Serial
-
-Communication protocol
-......................
-
- The stub files provided with GDB implement the target side of the
-communication protocol, and the GDB side is implemented in the GDB
-source file `remote.c'. Normally, you can simply allow these
-subroutines to communicate, and ignore the details. (If you're
-implementing your own stub file, you can still ignore the details: start
-with one of the existing stub files. `sparc-stub.c' is the best
-organized, and therefore the easiest to read.)
-
- However, there may be occasions when you need to know something about
-the protocol--for example, if there is only one serial port to your
-target machine, you might want your program to do something special if
-it recognizes a packet meant for GDB.
-
- All GDB commands and responses (other than acknowledgements, which
-are single characters) are sent as a packet which includes a checksum.
-A packet is introduced with the character `$', and ends with the
-character `#' followed by a two-digit checksum:
-
- $PACKET INFO#CHECKSUM
-
-CHECKSUM is computed as the modulo 256 sum of the PACKET INFO
-characters.
-
- When either the host or the target machine receives a packet, the
-first response expected is an acknowledgement: a single character,
-either `+' (to indicate the package was received correctly) or `-' (to
-request retransmission).
-
- The host (GDB) sends commands, and the target (the debugging stub
-incorporated in your program) sends data in response. The target also
-sends data when your program stops.
-
- Command packets are distinguished by their first character, which
-identifies the kind of command.
-
- These are some of the commands currently supported (for a complete
-list of commands, look in `gdb/remote.c.'):
-
-`g'
- Requests the values of CPU registers.
-
-`G'
- Sets the values of CPU registers.
-
-`mADDR,COUNT'
- Read COUNT bytes at location ADDR.
-
-`MADDR,COUNT:...'
- Write COUNT bytes at location ADDR.
-
-`c'
-`cADDR'
- Resume execution at the current address (or at ADDR if supplied).
-
-`s'
-`sADDR'
- Step the target program for one instruction, from either the
- current program counter or from ADDR if supplied.
-
-`k'
- Kill the target program.
-
-`?'
- Report the most recent signal. To allow you to take advantage of
- the GDB signal handling commands, one of the functions of the
- debugging stub is to report CPU traps as the corresponding POSIX
- signal values.
-
-`T'
- Allows the remote stub to send only the registers that GDB needs
- to make a quick decision about single-stepping or conditional
- breakpoints. This eliminates the need to fetch the entire
- register set for each instruction being stepped through.
-
- GDB now implements a write-through cache for registers and only
- re-reads the registers if the target has run.
-
- If you have trouble with the serial connection, you can use the
-command `set remotedebug'. This makes GDB report on all packets sent
-back and forth across the serial line to the remote machine. The
-packet-debugging information is printed on the GDB standard output
-stream. `set remotedebug off' turns it off, and `show remotedebug'
-shows you its current state.
-
-
-File: gdb.info, Node: Server, Next: NetWare, Prev: Protocol, Up: Remote Serial
-
-Using the `gdbserver' program
-.............................
-
- `gdbserver' is a control program for Unix-like systems, which allows
-you to connect your program with a remote GDB via `target remote'--but
-without linking in the usual debugging stub.
-
- `gdbserver' is not a complete replacement for the debugging stubs,
-because it requires essentially the same operating-system facilities
-that GDB itself does. In fact, a system that can run `gdbserver' to
-connect to a remote GDB could also run GDB locally! `gdbserver' is
-sometimes useful nevertheless, because it is a much smaller program
-than GDB itself. It is also easier to port than all of GDB, so you may
-be able to get started more quickly on a new system by using
-`gdbserver'. Finally, if you develop code for real-time systems, you
-may find that the tradeoffs involved in real-time operation make it
-more convenient to do as much development work as possible on another
-system, for example by cross-compiling. You can use `gdbserver' to
-make a similar choice for debugging.
-
- GDB and `gdbserver' communicate via either a serial line or a TCP
-connection, using the standard GDB remote serial protocol.
-
-*On the target machine,*
- you need to have a copy of the program you want to debug.
- `gdbserver' does not need your program's symbol table, so you can
- strip the program if necessary to save space. GDB on the host
- system does all the symbol handling.
-
- To use the server, you must tell it how to communicate with GDB;
- the name of your program; and the arguments for your program. The
- syntax is:
-
- target> gdbserver COMM PROGRAM [ ARGS ... ]
-
- COMM is either a device name (to use a serial line) or a TCP
- hostname and portnumber. For example, to debug Emacs with the
- argument `foo.txt' and communicate with GDB over the serial port
- `/dev/com1':
-
- target> gdbserver /dev/com1 emacs foo.txt
-
- `gdbserver' waits passively for the host GDB to communicate with
- it.
-
- To use a TCP connection instead of a serial line:
-
- target> gdbserver host:2345 emacs foo.txt
-
- The only difference from the previous example is the first
- argument, specifying that you are communicating with the host GDB
- via TCP. The `host:2345' argument means that `gdbserver' is to
- expect a TCP connection from machine `host' to local TCP port 2345.
- (Currently, the `host' part is ignored.) You can choose any number
- you want for the port number as long as it does not conflict with
- any TCP ports already in use on the target system (for example,
- `23' is reserved for `telnet').(1) You must use the same port
- number with the host GDB `target remote' command.
-
-*On the GDB host machine,*
- you need an unstripped copy of your program, since GDB needs
- symbols and debugging information. Start up GDB as usual, using
- the name of the local copy of your program as the first argument.
- (You may also need the `--baud' option if the serial line is
- running at anything other than 9600 bps.) After that, use `target
- remote' to establish communications with `gdbserver'. Its argument
- is either a device name (usually a serial device, like
- `/dev/ttyb'), or a TCP port descriptor in the form `HOST:PORT'.
- For example:
-
- (gdb) target remote /dev/ttyb
-
- communicates with the server via serial line `/dev/ttyb', and
-
- (gdb) target remote the-target:2345
-
- communicates via a TCP connection to port 2345 on host
- `the-target'. For TCP connections, you must start up `gdbserver'
- prior to using the `target remote' command. Otherwise you may get
- an error whose text depends on the host system, but which usually
- looks something like `Connection refused'.
-
- ---------- Footnotes ----------
-
- (1) If you choose a port number that conflicts with another service,
-`gdbserver' prints an error message and exits.
-
-
-File: gdb.info, Node: NetWare, Prev: Server, Up: Remote Serial
-
-Using the `gdbserve.nlm' program
-................................
-
- `gdbserve.nlm' is a control program for NetWare systems, which
-allows you to connect your program with a remote GDB via `target
-remote'.
-
- GDB and `gdbserve.nlm' communicate via a serial line, using the
-standard GDB remote serial protocol.
-
-*On the target machine,*
- you need to have a copy of the program you want to debug.
- `gdbserve.nlm' does not need your program's symbol table, so you
- can strip the program if necessary to save space. GDB on the host
- system does all the symbol handling.
-
- To use the server, you must tell it how to communicate with GDB;
- the name of your program; and the arguments for your program. The
- syntax is:
-
- load gdbserve [ BOARD=BOARD ] [ PORT=PORT ]
- [ BAUD=BAUD ] PROGRAM [ ARGS ... ]
-
- BOARD and PORT specify the serial line; BAUD specifies the baud
- rate used by the connection. PORT and NODE default to 0, BAUD
- defaults to 9600 bps.
-
- For example, to debug Emacs with the argument `foo.txt'and
- communicate with GDB over serial port number 2 or board 1 using a
- 19200 bps connection:
-
- load gdbserve BOARD=1 PORT=2 BAUD=19200 emacs foo.txt
-
-*On the GDB host machine,*
- you need an unstripped copy of your program, since GDB needs
- symbols and debugging information. Start up GDB as usual, using
- the name of the local copy of your program as the first argument.
- (You may also need the `--baud' option if the serial line is
- running at anything other than 9600 bps. After that, use `target
- remote' to establish communications with `gdbserve.nlm'. Its
- argument is a device name (usually a serial device, like
- `/dev/ttyb'). For example:
-
- (gdb) target remote /dev/ttyb
-
- communications with the server via serial line `/dev/ttyb'.
-
-
-File: gdb.info, Node: i960-Nindy Remote, Next: UDI29K Remote, Prev: Remote Serial, Up: Remote
-
-GDB with a remote i960 (Nindy)
-------------------------------
-
- "Nindy" is a ROM Monitor program for Intel 960 target systems. When
-GDB is configured to control a remote Intel 960 using Nindy, you can
-tell GDB how to connect to the 960 in several ways:
-
- * Through command line options specifying serial port, version of the
- Nindy protocol, and communications speed;
-
- * By responding to a prompt on startup;
-
- * By using the `target' command at any point during your GDB
- session. *Note Commands for managing targets: Target Commands.
-
-* Menu:
-
-* Nindy Startup:: Startup with Nindy
-* Nindy Options:: Options for Nindy
-* Nindy Reset:: Nindy reset command
-
-
-File: gdb.info, Node: Nindy Startup, Next: Nindy Options, Up: i960-Nindy Remote
-
-Startup with Nindy
-..................
-
- If you simply start `gdb' without using any command-line options,
-you are prompted for what serial port to use, *before* you reach the
-ordinary GDB prompt:
-
- Attach /dev/ttyNN -- specify NN, or "quit" to quit:
-
-Respond to the prompt with whatever suffix (after `/dev/tty')
-identifies the serial port you want to use. You can, if you choose,
-simply start up with no Nindy connection by responding to the prompt
-with an empty line. If you do this and later wish to attach to Nindy,
-use `target' (*note Commands for managing targets: Target Commands.).
-