How Can I Effectively Debug Core Files from a Different Linux Distribution Than My Development Environment?

Debugging Core Files Generated on a Customer's System

When software crashes on a customer's machine, generating a core file can provide valuable insights into the cause. However, certain considerations arise when debugging core files from different Linux distributions than the one used for development.

Impact of Different Linux Distros on Core File Stack Traces

If the executable is dynamically linked, the stack trace generated by GDB may not be meaningful if the core file comes from a different Linux distribution. GDB relies on the debug symbols in its copy of shared libraries to interpret the call stack. However, these symbols may not match those in the libraries on the customer's system.

To address this issue, you can obtain the shared libraries from the customer's system and specify their absolute path using the set solib-absolute-prefix command in GDB. This ensures that GDB uses the correct debug symbols to interpret the core file.

Recommended Debugging Approach

Instead of advising customers to run a debug build, it is more practical to compile a stripped debug build (-g -O2) and use it for debugging purposes while distributing a stripped version (-O2) to customers. This approach provides full symbolic information without revealing unnecessary source code details.

Further Reading

For enhanced debugging capabilities on Linux or Solaris, consider the following resources:

• Linux Debugging Tools Wiki:
• Solaris Debugging with DTrace and SVR4 Debugger:

These resources offer hands-on examples and advanced tips for solving complex debugging scenarios, including assembly-level analysis.

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