CONFIG_DEBUG_INFO and debugging the kernel with "gdb"

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  i plan on writing my next kernel newbie column on debugging both the
kernel and loadable modules with gdb (based on that section from
LDD3), but there are a few issues i want to clarify.

  in ch 4 of LDD3 (readable online at http://lwn.net/Kernel/LDD3/), on
p 100, one reads:

"Note that, in order to have symbol information available for gdb, you
must compile your kernel with the CONFIG_DEBUG_INFO option set. The
result is a far larger kernel image on disk, but, without that
information, digging through kernel variables is almost impossible."

  i'm pretty sure that isn't strictly true.  if i recall correctly,
even eithout CONFIG_DEBUG_INFO, you can still debug by simple variable
name -- it's only the more complicated structures that you can't
debug.  does anyone know the exact limitations on debugging if you
choose *not* to set CONFIG_DEBUG_INFO?  thanks.

rday
--


========================================================================
Robert P. J. Day                               Waterloo, Ontario, CANADA

        Linux Consulting, Training and Annoying Kernel Pedantry.

Web page:                                          http://crashcourse.ca
Twitter:                                       http://twitter.com/rpjday
"Kernel Newbie Corner" column @ linux.com:          http://cli.gs/WG6WYX
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