ARM DS-5 Using the Debug Hardware Configuration Utilities

Configuring debug hardware for GDB9.12 Connections to a target OS using gdbserver (GDBserver)If your target application requires TCP/IP communication with the debug host, you mustconnect to the target using bridged Ethernet. Connections of this type are referred to asGDBserver connections. This method is an extension to that used for connections to a targetrunning an application with a GDB stub. The following figure shows an example:Debug hostGDBBridged Ethernet(IP)Debug unitConfigurationMechanismVirtualEthernetSet up JTAGscan chainDCC(IP over DCC)TargetOSGDBserverApplicationFigure 9-4 GDBserver connectionsIn this method, IP packets can be carried over the same link alongside the normal GDB protocol.9.12.1 GDBserver ScenarioUse the GDBserver connection method to debug an application on a target that has an embeddedOS, such as Linux, that supports independent processes. In this case you can run GDB server(gdbserver) instances. The GDB server can have TCP/IP connections to the debug host that isrunning GDB. The DCC driver is available as a Linux OS download from the ARM web site.9.12.2 PrerequisitesTo use the GDBserver connection method:• On the GDB connection to the target, you must enable DCC and Virtual Ethernet/TTYmode before starting the processor.• The target OS must be running a TCP/IP stack and gdbserver.• debug hardware acts as a network bridge between the target processor and the host PCusing a virtual Ethernet link. The target must have its own IP address that is either fixedor obtained from a DHCP server, and that appears on the virtual Ethernet as anindependent host.9.12.3 ProcedureIf your application uses an IP stack, it can communicate over DCC through a bridged Ethernetconnection.To debug an application using a GDBserver connection:1. Power-up your target hardware and debug hardware unit.2. Download and boot the target using the rviload utility.3. When the Linux kernel has finished booting, start the gdbserver as follows:~ # gdbserver localhost:portnum filenameARM DUI 0498F Copyright © 2010-2012 ARM. All rights reserved. 9-17ID021112Non-Confidential