-- Kernel data structures can be read and modified using the usual
gdb commands for manipulating program variables.
-- The debugger state can be initialized using a kernel trap report,
or with the current state of a process that is blocked in the
kernel.
-- Kernel functions can be invoked using the gdb "call" command, and
can be used in expressions.
-- Requires only a single computer.
Xkdebug adds:
-- Breakpoints can be set in kernel code to observe the status of
the world at a particular point of time.
-- Kernel code can be single-stepped.
-- Hinds's support for the gdb "call" command is broken.
An alpha version of xkdebug is available from
<http://www.isi.edu/~johnh/SOFTWARE/xkdebug.html>.
This version is alpha because:
- This work hasn't seen extensive testing.
- "Call" is broken. I'm working to fix that.
- I'd like to merge my patches in with Hinds's work
so there's one less program in the world.
If xkdebug is successful, and when these issues are worked out,
I'll upload xkdebug to sunsite.unc.edu.
Comments are welcome.
-John Heidemann