Re: Kernel symbol table

Michael Snyder
2009-04-09T18:48:41Z

Shrinand Javadekar wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> I have gdb attached to a running kernel. Even if the kernel was not
> built with symbols, there should be some symbols exported by the
> kernel right? The ones exported by using EXPORT_SYMBOL; e.g. sys_open,
> sys_close, etc.
>
> I believe these symbols are kept in the kernel symbol table. The
> question I have is, how do I access this symbol table?
>
> Also, does the kernel do anything special about where to keep (at what
> address) this symbol table?
>
> Thanks in advance.
> -Shri

Shri,

If you build the kernel, the symbol file will be called "vmlinux"
in the top level of your build tree. This is an elf file that gdb
can read.

You do not want the compressed file called "vmlinuz" (note 'z').
That file is not elf.

Cheers,
Michael