{"id":425,"date":"2020-03-27T16:39:06","date_gmt":"2020-03-27T23:39:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sysprogs.com\/tutorials\/?p=425"},"modified":"2020-03-27T16:39:06","modified_gmt":"2020-03-27T23:39:06","slug":"manually-importing-kernel-symbols-into-visualkernel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sysprogs.com\/VisualKernel\/tutorials\/setup\/symbols\/","title":{"rendered":"Manually Importing Kernel Symbols into VisualKernel"},"content":{"rendered":"

This tutorial shows how to import kernel symbols for unsupported Linux distributions into VisualKernel.<\/p>\n

Normally, VisualKernel will automatically download and install the symbols for supported Linux distributions<\/a>, however if you are using a distribution that is not directly supported, or cannot obtain the symbols automatically, follow this tutorial to install the symbols and import them into VisualKernel automatically.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Before you begin importing the symbols into VisualKernel, determine your currently running kernel version by running “uname -a<\/strong>” and follow your distribution’s instructions to install the symbol and source packages for this exact<\/strong> kernel version. In most of the cases, you will need to install 2 packages:\n
      \n
    1. Debugging symbols. They typically consist of one huge kernel file containing the debug information. Debug symbols help map symbolic names, such as printk(), <\/strong>to specific addresses in the kernel space.<\/li>\n
    2. Kernel sources. The source package contains a snapshot of the kernel source tree with files like printk.c<\/strong>, that were used to build the currently running image. VisualKernel will use them to display meaningful source code when stepping through the kernel functions.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      We have detailed tutorials showing how to download symbols for Ubuntu<\/a> and Fedora<\/a>. For other Linux distros, see the distro-specific documentation.<\/li>\n

    3. Once you have downloaded the symbols and the sources, go to the source directory on the Linux machine and make vmlinux<\/strong> a symbolic link to the symbol file:\"\"<\/a>
      \nNow the source directory will have the same structure as if the kernel was built directly in it.<\/li>\n
    4. Start Visual Studio and open the Tools->VisualKernel->Manage Linux Kernel Symbols<\/strong> window:\"\"<\/a><\/li>\n
    5. VisualKernel will open the Kernel Symbol Manager window, listing the kernel symbols\/sources that can already be used for debugging. In order to add the symbols you have just installed to the list, click “Import symbols and sources for another kernel”:
      \n      \"\"<\/a><\/li>\n
    6. VisualKernel will start the symbol importing wizard. On the first page select “Import manually built kernel”: \"\"<\/a><\/li>\n
    7. On the next page select the computer where you have downloaded the symbols and pick the source directory: \"\"<\/a>
      \nThe source directory should contain the kernel sources and the “vmlinux” symlink pointing to the symbol file.<\/li>\n
    8. Click “Finish” to complete the wizard. VisualKernel will import the sources and symbols to your Windows machine and will index them, making debugging possible:\"\"<\/a><\/li>\n
    9. Once the import is completed, the symbols will appear in the Linux Kernel Symbol Manager window: \"\"<\/a><\/li>\n
    10. Now you can use the imported symbols for debugging your kernel. The easiest way to try it out is via the Debug->Quick Debug Linux Kernel command: \"\"<\/a><\/li>\n
    11. Select your Linux machine, pick the previously imported symbols, and configure a debugging method that will work with your setup: \"\"<\/a>
      \nYou can read more about various debug methods supported by VisualKernel on       this page<\/a>.<\/li>\n
    12. Once you click “Debug”, VisualKernel will automatically use the previously imported symbols to debug your kernel, so you will be able to set breakpoints and step through the source code:
      \n      \"\"<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      This tutorial shows how to import kernel symbols for unsupported Linux distributions into VisualKernel. Normally, VisualKernel will automatically download and<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[41],"tags":[53],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sysprogs.com\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/425"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sysprogs.com\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sysprogs.com\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sysprogs.com\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sysprogs.com\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=425"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/sysprogs.com\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/425\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":437,"href":"https:\/\/sysprogs.com\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/425\/revisions\/437"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sysprogs.com\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=425"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sysprogs.com\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=425"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sysprogs.com\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=425"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}