From owner-freebsd-doc Fri Aug 4 7:30: 6 2000 Delivered-To: freebsd-doc@freebsd.org Received: from freefall.freebsd.org (freefall.FreeBSD.ORG [204.216.27.21]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id DCB9E37BB55 for ; Fri, 4 Aug 2000 07:30:01 -0700 (PDT) (envelope-from gnats@FreeBSD.org) Received: (from gnats@localhost) by freefall.freebsd.org (8.9.3/8.9.2) id HAA73145; Fri, 4 Aug 2000 07:30:01 -0700 (PDT) (envelope-from gnats@FreeBSD.org) Received: by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix, from userid 32767) id 881E137BB54; Fri, 4 Aug 2000 07:20:57 -0700 (PDT) Message-Id: <20000804142057.881E137BB54@hub.freebsd.org> Date: Fri, 4 Aug 2000 07:20:57 -0700 (PDT) From: jefblaine@mediaone.net To: freebsd-gnats-submit@FreeBSD.org X-Send-Pr-Version: www-1.0 Subject: docs/20400: Building a kernel with debugging info section could use a rework Sender: owner-freebsd-doc@FreeBSD.ORG Precedence: bulk X-Loop: FreeBSD.org >Number: 20400 >Category: docs >Synopsis: Building a kernel with debugging info section could use a rework >Confidential: no >Severity: non-critical >Priority: low >Responsible: freebsd-doc >State: open >Quarter: >Keywords: >Date-Required: >Class: doc-bug >Submitter-Id: current-users >Arrival-Date: Fri Aug 04 07:30:01 PDT 2000 >Closed-Date: >Last-Modified: >Originator: Jeff Blaine >Release: 4.0-RELEASE >Organization: >Environment: FreeBSD kickflop 4.0-RELEASE FreeBSD 4.0-RELEASE #0: Fri Jul 28 09:39:54 EDT 200 0 root@kickflop:/usr/src/sys/compile/BUNK i386 >Description: I was thinking that the 2.2.1 subsection of http://www.freebsd.org/handbook/kerneldebug.html could use a little bit of a reworking in those first 7 paragraphs and show steps instead of just generalized information. For example, there are very specific steps to follow to get a kernel built with debugging symbols in it, and that's the absolute first step to doing any kernel debugging work from crashes and such. One of those steps, the most important one(!), is using 'config -g KERNEL_CONFIG_FILE' and not 'config KERNEL_CONFIG_FILE' as part of the build, regardless of the 'makeoptions DEBUG=-g' in KERNEL_CONFIG_FILE, yet this step is casually mentioned at the end of one of the paragraphs as 'Config your kernel using config -g' What I have issue with is the casual (and not formal step-by-step) nature of the first half of that subsection. The part where it shows how to fire up gdb -k (and from then on) is done in this fashion, but the first half of the subsection is not. Also, what's all this about 'kgdb' (in terminal type font as if it is a command to type)? If the command is 'gdb -k' nowadays, and has been for some time, why give it this secret codeword? Call it 'gdb in kernel debugging mode' or just 'gdb -k'... >How-To-Repeat: >Fix: >Release-Note: >Audit-Trail: >Unformatted: To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-doc" in the body of the message