[external/binutils.git] / gdb / doc / gdb.info-6

This is Info file ./gdb.info, produced by Makeinfo version 1.68 from
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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.).

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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.

\1f
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.

\1f
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

\1f
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

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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.

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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.

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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.

\1f
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.

\1f
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.

\1f
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'.

\1f
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

\1f
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.).