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Oracle Solaris Modular Debugger Guide     Oracle Solaris 11.1 Information Library
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Document Information

Preface

1.  Modular Debugger Overview

Introduction

MDB Features

Using MDB

Future Enhancements

2.  Debugger Concepts

3.  MDB Language Syntax

4.  Using MDB Commands Interactively

5.  Built-In Commands

6.  Execution Control

7.  Kernel Execution Control

8.  Kernel Debugging Modules

9.  Debugging With the Kernel Memory Allocator

10.  Module Programming API

A.  MDB Options

B.  Notes

C.  Transition From adb and kadb

D.  Transition From crash

Index

Introduction

Debugging is the process of analyzing the execution and state of a software program in order to remove defects. Traditional debugging tools provide facilities for execution control so that programmers can execute programs in a controlled environment and display the current state of program data or evaluate expressions in the source language used to develop the program. Unfortunately, these techniques are often inappropriate for debugging complex software systems.

The following examples describe complex software systems that MDB is well suited to examine and debug:

MDB provides a completely customizable environment for debugging these programs and scenarios, including a dynamic module facility that you can use to implement your own debugging commands to perform program-specific analysis. Each MDB module can be used to examine the program in several different contexts, including live and post-mortem. The Oracle Solaris OS includes a set of MDB modules that help you debug the kernel and related device drivers and kernel modules. Third-party developers might want to develop and deliver their own debugging modules for supervisor or user software.