A GDB-based real-time tracing tool for remote debugging of SoC programs

Abstract

Since embedded systems based on System-on-a-Chip(SOC) have limited resources, debugging programs in such systems requires a remote debugging system that has enough resources. However, existing JTAG based remote debugging system that uses GDB in Linux environment does not provide tracing function, so it is hard to monitor the executions of SoC program in real time. This paper adds a tracing facility to existing GDB remote debugging system to provide a real time monitoring tool. To demonstrate a real time tracing of synthetic program, Intel a Xscale PXA series processor based target system is used.