Gdbserver: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Remote debugging program}}

{{orphan|date=February 2010}}

{{lowercase|title=gdbserver}}

'''gdbserver''' is a computer program that makes it possible to remotely [[Debugging|debug]] other programs.<ref>[http://ftp.gnu.org/old-gnu/Manuals/gdb-5.1.1/html_node/gdb_130.html GDB Manual]</ref> Running on the same system as the program to be debugged, it allows the [[GNU Debugger]] to connect from another system; that is, only the executable to be debugged needs to be resident on the target system ("target"), while the source code and a copy of the binary file to be debugged reside on the developer's local computer ("host"). The connection can be either TCP or a serial line.

== How Itit Worksworks ==

{{Unreferenced|date=February 2010}}

# <code>gdbserver</code> is launched on the target system, with the arguments:

'''gdbserver''' is a computer program that allows to remotely [[Debugging|debug]] other programs. It runs in the system with the program to be debugged and allows the [[GNU Debugger]] to connect from a different system.

#* Either a device name (to use a serial line) or a TCP hostname and port number, and

#* The path and filename of the executable to be debugged

#:It then waits passively for the host gdb to communicate with it.

# <code>gdb</code> is run on the host, with the arguments:

#* The path and filename of the executable (and any sources) on the host, and

#* A device name (for a serial line) or the IP address and port number needed for connection to the target system.

Example for debugging a program called <code>hello_world</code> on a remote target using TCP ("2159" is the [[List of TCP and UDP port numbers#Registered ports|registered TCP port number for remote GDB]]):

It only needs the presence of the executable on the target, while the source code and a copy of the binary file stay in the computer used by the developer.

<syntaxhighlight lang="console">

remote@~$ gdbserver :23452159 hello_world

== How It Works ==

# <tt>gdbserver</tt> is launched on the target with the path and name of the executable to debug, and a port number (TCP or UDP). It listens for connections on the port.

# <tt>gdb</tt> is run on the host with the path and name of the executable (and the sources) on the host, and the IP address and port number to connect to the target.

Example for debugging a program in a remote host called <tt>hello_world</tt> ("2345" is the TCP port number):

<pre>

remote$ gdbserver :2345 hello_world

Process hello_world created; pid = 2509

Listening on port 23452159

</syntaxhighlight>

</pre>

<syntaxhighlight lang="console">

<pre>

local@~$ gdb -q hello_world

Reading symbols from /home/user/hello_world...done.

(gdb) target remote 192.168.0.11:23452159

Remote debugging using 192.168.0.11:23452159

0x002f3850 in ?? () from /lib/ld-linux.so.2

(gdb) continue

Line 30 ⟶ 32:

10 printf("x[%d] = %g\n", i, x[i]);

(gdb)

</syntaxhighlight>

</pre>

== Alternatives ==

A differentAnother technique to remotelyfor debugdebugging programs remotely is to use a ''remote stub''.<ref>[httphttps://davissourceware.lbl.govorg/Manualsgdb/GDBonlinedocs/gdb_17gdb/Remote-Stub.html#SEC140 Debugging with GDB]</ref>.{{clarifyClarify|date=February 2010}} In this case, the program to be debugged is linked with a few special-purpose subroutines that implement the GDB remote serial protocol. The file containing these subroutines is called a "debugging stub".

The program to debug is linked with a few special-purpose subroutines that implement the GDB remote serial protocol. The file containing these subroutines is called a debugging stub.

== See also ==

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== Notes ==

{{reflistReflist}}

== References ==

* Andreas Zeller: <cite>Why Programs Fail: A Guide to Systematic Debugging</cite>, Morgan Kaufmann, 2005. {{ISBN |1-55860-866-4}}

== External links ==

* [httphttps://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/ GDB homepage]

* [http://man-wiki.net/index.php/1:gdbserver gdbserver] [[man page]]

* [http://davis.lbl.gov/Manuals/GDB/gdb_17.html Debugging with GDB]

{{GNU}}

[[Category:Debugging| Debuggers]]

[[Category:GNU project software|DebuggerDebugging]]

[[Category:GNU Project software|Debugger]]

[[Category:Unix programming tools]]

[[fr:Gdbserver]]

{{compu-prog-stub}}