Tool for debugging an operating system

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Filing Information

  • Patent Number: US5603033
  • Application Number: US8228429
  • Filing date: 04/15/1994
  • Issue date: 02/11/1997
  • Predicted expiration date: 04/15/2014
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  • U.S. Classifications: 395/704  · 364/280  ·
  • International Classifications: G06F 1100 ·
  • International Classifications: 395700 ·
  • Foreign Priority: FR9304774 - 04/22/1993 ·
20 Claims, No Drawings


Abstract

A tool (KD) for debugging an operating system, which among other elements includes at least one processor (P), a memory (M) for use by the processor, and a memory management unit (MMU). The tool is stored in a zone of the memory (M) where the virtual addressing mode is equal to the physical addressing mode. The tool is operable to perform by a predetermined method, and the tool executes each operation in the physical addressing mode, independently of the management unit (MMU). For controlling the phases of initialization of the machine, the tool supports at least two exception vectors (BP, DSI), and among other elements includes its own stack (S), a decoder (DEC) which uses an algorithm that is operational regardless of the context of the process analyzed and regardless of the storage means (CMM) of the decoded context.

References Cited

U.S. Patent Documents

Document NumberAssigneesInventorsIssue/Pub Date
US4462077 Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated Yonk Jul 1984
US4819234 Prime Computer, Inc. Huber Apr 1989
US4835685 Computer X, Inc. Kun May 1989
US5063499 Connectix, Inc. Garber Nov 1991
US5093914 AT&T Bell Laboratories Coplien et al. Mar 1992
US5127103 North American Philips Corporation Hill et al. Jun 1992
US5355487 International Business Machines Corporation Keller et al. Oct 1994

Other Publications

Moher, T., "Provide: A Process Visualization and Debugging Environment", IEEE Transactions On Software Engineering, vol. 14, No. 6, Jun. 1988.
IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, vol. 34, No. 1, pp. 451-452, Jun. 1991, New York, US, "Resetting Dirty Bits on OS/2 2.0".

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Independent Claims | See all claims (20)

  1. 1. A tool for debugging an operating system of an information processing machine, wherein the machine includes at least one processor, a memory for use by the processor, and a memory management unit, comprising means for performing debugging of a process having a given context in accordance with a predetermined method, means for enabling each operation of said debugging to be performed in a physical addressing mode, while working in a zone of the memory where a virtual addressing mode is equal to the physical addressing mode, wherein said tool operates independently of the memory management unit, and further including means for controlling operational phases necessary for initializing the machine, means for supporting at least two exception vectors, a stack capable of being initialized by said tool, a decoder for decoding said given context which uses an algorithm for generating a decoded context, and context storage means for storing said decoded context, said algorithm being operational regardless of the given context of the process being debugged and regardless of the type of context storage means used for storage of said decoded context.
  2. 13. A method for use in debugging an operating system of an information processing machine, wherein the machine includes at least one processor, a memory for use by the processor, and a memory management unit, the machine including a tool for debugging in the memory, wherein the tool includes means for performing debugging of a process having a given context in accordance with the method, means for enabling each operation of said debugging to be performed in a physical addressing mode while working in a zone of the memory where virtual addressing mode is equal to the physical addressing mode, wherein the tool operates independently of the memory management unit, and further including means for controlling operational phases necessary for initializing the machine, means for supporting at least two exception vectors, a stack capable of being initialized by said tool, a decoder for decoding said given context which uses an algorithm for generating decoded context, and storage means for storing the decoded context, said algorithm being operational regardless of the given context of the process being debugged and regardless of the type of storage means used to store the decoded context, said method comprising the steps of:recognizing a call to said tool in response to an exception;selecting and initializing said stack for working in the physical addressing mode;receiving, by the tool, parameters of the context to be processed and for decoding the context by using the algorithm of the decoder to translate virtual addresses into physical addresses;transferring the decoded context to the storage means;initializing a console of the machine so that the user can provide input thereto; andreturning control to the machine once the debugging is complete.