qemu-aarch64-LK-debug

Linux Kernel Debugging with QEMU

This repository provides scripts and Makefile targets to configure, build, and run the Linux kernel using QEMU for debugging purposes. The setup includes support for kernel debugging with GDB.

Repository Structure

• linux-6.10.2/: Directory containing the Linux kernel source code.
• rootfs_alpine.img: Root filesystem image (Alpine Linux).

Prerequisites

• QEMU
• GDB (multiarch)
• Cross-compiler for ARM64 (aarch64-linux-gnu-)
• Make

Makefile Targets

make debug_kernel

Starts GDB, connects to the QEMU instance, and prepares for debugging.

make build_kernel

Builds the Linux kernel with the specified architecture and cross-compiler.

make all

Builds all steps and run qemu for debug

make create_rootfs_image

Create rootfs image using Alpine Linux (aarch64)

make run_qemu

Starts QEMU with the built Linux kernel and the provided root filesystem image, enabling GDB server on port 1234.

make clean

Clean all

steps for debugging

• use make run_qemu to launch in debug mode (in one terminal)
• Debug in VScode: press debug and select 'Attach to QEMU' configuration
• Debug the code as required
• GDB in terminal (refer gdb_commands.txt)