Debugging The Kernel Locally; Overview; Kernel Debugging Setup Options - HP Rx2620-2 - Integrity - 0 MB RAM Manual

1 Debugging the kernel locally

If you have programmed on the Windows operating system for any length of time, you are
probably familiar with user-mode debuggers and aware of kernel-mode debuggers. User-mode
debuggers help developers to debug applications. Kernel-mode debuggers are used mostly by
driver writers to debug device drivers and by support professionals to analyze system crashes.
This chapter describes how to locally debug the operating system kernel on HP Integrity servers.
In a local debugging environment, you are physically located near the server you want to debug.
You use a host machine, typically a laptop, that has the Windows debugging software installed
on it. You connect the host machine to the server with a cable (this sometimes requires the use
of a custom-made converter plug), and begin the debugging process.
NOTE:
You can use the local debugging procedures described in this chapter on all HP Integrity
servers, except the following:
• HP Integrity rx7640 servers
• HP Integrity rx8640 servers
• HP Integrity Superdome servers with the sx2000 chipset
You debug these servers remotely, over a LAN, using the methods described in the next chapter.

Overview

A typical local kernel debugging environment for Windows systems consists of a host machine,
which runs the debugging software; a connecting cable (and sometimes a custom-made converter
plug); and an HP Integrity server target machine. The host is usually a laptop installed with
Microsoft Debugging Tools for Windows (x86) software, and the cable is either a null modem
serial or CAT-5 cable. The target is always an HP Integrity server running Microsoft Windows
Server 2003 or Windows Server 2008 for Intel® Itanium-based systems.
Use the following table to determine which setup is required, based on your target:
Table 1-1 Kernel debugging setup options
Host (+ Debugging software)
Laptop or workstation
+
Microsoft Debugging Tools for
Windows
Cable (+ Converter)
Serial (RS232) null modem cable (DB9
female)
+
5x2-to-DB9M converter (for rx1620
only)
Target
Works with the following HP Integrity
server models:
• BL860c
• BL870c
• rx1620
• rx2600
• rx2620
• rx2660
• rx3600
• rx4640
• rx6600
Overview 9