Self-Service Linux: Mastering the Art of Problem Determination

Description:

"This welcome addition to the Linux bookshelf provides real insight into the black-art of debugging. All too often debugging books concentrate solely on the tools but this book avoids that pitfall by concentrating on examples. The authors dissect and discuss each example in detail; in so doing they give invaluable insight into the Linux environment."

—Richard J Moore, IBM Advanced Linux Response Team-Linux Technology Centre

"A plethora of Linux books exist but this guide offers a definitive overview of practical hints and tips for Linux users. Written by experts in the field, it will be extremely useful for system administrators and Linux enthusiasts."

—Markus Rex, VP and General Manager, SUSE LINUX

• The indispensable troubleshooting resource for every Linux administrator, developer, support professional, and power user!

• Systematically resolve errors, crashes, hangs, performance slowdowns, unexpected behavior, and unexpected outputs

• Master essential Linux troubleshooting tools, including strace, gdb, kdb, SysRq, /proc, and more

The indispensable start-to-finish troubleshooting guide for every Linux professional

Now, there's a systematic, practical guide to Linux troubleshooting for every power user, administrator, and developer. In Self-Service Linux®, two of IBM's leading Linux experts introduce a four-step methodology for identifying and resolving every type of Linux-related system or application problem: errors, crashes, hangs, performance slowdowns, unexpected behavior, and unexpected outputs. You'll learn exactly how to use Linux's key troubleshooting tools to solve problems on your own—and how to make effective use of the Linux community's knowledge.

If you use Linux professionally, this book can dramatically increase your efficiency, productivity, and marketability. If you're involved with deploying or managing Linux in the enterprise, it can help you significantly reduce operation costs, enhance availability, and improve ROI.

• Discover proven best practices for diagnosing problems in Linux environments

• Leverage troubleshooting skills you've developed with other platforms

• Learn to identify problems with strace—the most frequently used Linux troubleshooting tool

• Use /proc to uncover crucial information about hardware, kernels, and processes

• Recompile open source applications with debug information

• Debug applications with gdb, including C++ and threaded applications

• Debug kernel crashes and hangs, one step at a time

• Understand the Executable and Linking Format (ELF), and use that knowledge for more effective debugging

• Includes a production-ready data collection script that can save you hours or days in debugging mission-critical Linux systems!

Series Editor Bruce Perens' is an open source evangelist, developer, and consultant whose software is a major component of most commercial embedded Linux offerings. He founded or cofounded Linux Standard Base, Open Source Initiative, and Software in the Public Interest. As Debian GNU/Linux Project Leader, he was instrumental in getting the system on two U.S. space shuttle flights.

 

Table of Contents:

Preface.

1. Best Practices and Initial Investigation.

2. strace and System Call Tracing Explained.

3. The /proc Filesystem.

4. Compiling.

5. The Stack.

6. The GNU Debugger (GDB).

7. Linux System Crashes and Hangs.

8.: Kernel Debugging with KDB.

9.: ELF: Executable and Linking Format.

Appendix A: The Toolbox.

Appendix B: Data Collection Script.

Index.