freebsd stable - Mar 2009 - ALT_BREAK_TO... + ILO ... missing something in config ...

Due to an issue I'm having with 7.x, and trying to track it down, I spent 
tonight getting my server setup to allow my to break into the debugger 
when it hangs, and hopefully dump core ...

But, although I *think* I've got it all, I'm obviously missing
something,
as it isn't breaking ...

First ... I'm running a proliant server, and when I connect via SSH to ILO 
on that machine, and type 'vsp', I get a shell as I expect, I can type, 
etc ... when I reboot the machine, I get the opening splash screen with 
the 7(?) options (normal boot, single user mode, etc, etc) ... but I get 
nothing between that and the login prompt ... first sign of a problem, 
maybe?

Next, the easy question ... what is the key stroke to issue when one has 
ALT_BREAK_TO_DEBUGGER is set in the kernel? I thought it was CR ~ ^b ... 
is that correct?  I'm using putty to connect via ssh, if that makes a 
difference ... I've also tried using the browser interface into ilo / vsp, 
same lack of a result ...

Beyond adding sio device driver to my kernel, I've also got:

options         ALT_BREAK_TO_DEBUGGER
options         KDB
options         DDB

Missing a kernel option maybe?

I have the following in /boot/loader.conf:

comconsole_speed="9600"
console="vidconsole,comconsole" # A comma separated list of console(s)
boot_multicons="-D" # -D: Use multiple consoles
boot_serial="-h" # -h: Use serial console

So ... eithe rI don't have it enabled like I think, or I'm doing the
wrong
key stroke ... or ...

Thx



----
Marc G. Fournier           Hub.Org Networking Services (http://www.hub.org)
Email . scrappy@hub.org                              MSN . scrappy@hub.org
Yahoo . yscrappy               Skype: hub.org        ICQ . 7615664

> 
> Due to an issue I'm having with 7.x, and trying to track it down, I
spent
> tonight getting my server setup to allow my to break into the debugger 
> when it hangs, and hopefully dump core ...
> 
> But, although I *think* I've got it all, I'm obviously missing
something,
> as it isn't breaking ...
> 
> First ... I'm running a proliant server, and when I connect via SSH to
ILO
> on that machine, and type 'vsp', I get a shell as I expect, I can
type,
> etc ... when I reboot the machine, I get the opening splash screen with 
> the 7(?) options (normal boot, single user mode, etc, etc) ... but I get 
> nothing between that and the login prompt ... first sign of a problem, 
> maybe?
> 
not realy, you at least have confirmation that you are talking
correctly via the serial port. Till this point boot is using
the BIOS routines to talk via the serial port. Later, the kernel
tries to use it's routines/knowledge of the serial port.
> Next, the easy question ... what is the key stroke to issue when one has 
> ALT_BREAK_TO_DEBUGGER is set in the kernel? I thought it was CR ~ ^b ... 
> is that correct?  I'm using putty to connect via ssh, if that makes a 
> difference ... I've also tried using the browser interface into ilo /
vsp,
> same lack of a result ...
unless the serial port is setup as console, check if /boot/device.hints
has:
	hint.sio.0.flags="0x10"
escaping to the debugger is not caught.
btw, Jeremy Chadwick had a nice explanation, but I lost the URL.
> 
> Beyond adding sio device driver to my kernel, I've also got:
> 
> options         ALT_BREAK_TO_DEBUGGER
> options         KDB
> options         DDB
> 
> Missing a kernel option maybe?
> 
> I have the following in /boot/loader.conf:
> 
> comconsole_speed="9600"
> console="vidconsole,comconsole" # A comma separated list of
console(s)
> boot_multicons="-D" # -D: Use multiple consoles
> boot_serial="-h" # -h: Use serial console
> 
> So ... eithe rI don't have it enabled like I think, or I'm doing
the wrong
> key stroke ... or ...
> 
> Thx
> 
you are very close!, but each hardware/bios needs a different solution :-(

danny

On Sat, 28 Mar 2009, Danny Braniss wrote:
> unless the serial port is setup as console, check if /boot/device.hints
> has:
> 	hint.sio.0.flags="0x10"
> escaping to the debugger is not caught.
> btw, Jeremy Chadwick had a nice explanation, but I lost the URL.
That was the missing piece, thank you ... I can now break down into DDB 
through the VSP ...

----
Marc G. Fournier           Hub.Org Networking Services (http://www.hub.org)
Email . scrappy@hub.org                              MSN . scrappy@hub.org
Yahoo . yscrappy               Skype: hub.org        ICQ . 7615664