Tool Debugs Linux Kernels Without Instrumented Code

Dec. 18, 2000

Designers can trace applications within a Linux kernel with SpyKer, an event trace and visualization tool from LynuxWorks. Prior to this release, kernel tracing required a custom kernel with instrumented code so the trace application could hook into...

William G. Wong

SpyKer is useful for kernel, device driver, and application development. Designers don't have to make any modifications, since it places itself between the operating system and the application. SpyKer doesn't need rebooting to use, either.

Compatible with standard and real-time Linux operating systems, including LynuxWorks' BlueCat Linux, SpyKer works with the company's LynxOS. This proprietary real-time operating system provides a Linux-compatible API and operating environment. Once loaded, SpyKer hooks into the operating system and records time-stamped events of the operating-system kernel, libraries, and application code calls. These events can be displayed in real time or recorded for later viewing and analysis.

The SpyKer user interface can selectively display events. Developers, then, can concentrate on specific applications or the entire system as necessary. Likewise, developers can examine an arbitrary set of system functions that are important to them.

While SpyKer will be handy for application developers, it's indispensible for embedded development where proper timing and sequencing is imperative. It's available now for $999 per copy.

LynuxWorks Inc., 2239 Samaritan Dr., San Jose, CA 95124; (408) 879-3900; fax (408) 879-3920; www.lynuxworks.com.

About the Author

William G. Wong | Senior Content Director - Electronic Design and Microwaves & RF

I am Editor of Electronic Design focusing on embedded, software, and systems. As Senior Content Director, I also manage Microwaves & RF and I work with a great team of editors to provide engineers, programmers, developers and technical managers with interesting and useful articles and videos on a regular basis. Check out our free newsletters to see the latest content.

You can send press releases for new products for possible coverage on the website. I am also interested in receiving contributed articles for publishing on our website. Use our template and send to me along with a signed release form.

Check out my blog, AltEmbedded on Electronic Design, as well as his latest articles on this site that are listed below.

You can visit my social media via these links:

I earned a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology and a Masters in Computer Science from Rutgers University. I still do a bit of programming using everything from C and C++ to Rust and Ada/SPARK. I do a bit of PHP programming for Drupal websites. I have posted a few Drupal modules.

I still get a hand on software and electronic hardware. Some of this can be found on our Kit Close-Up video series. You can also see me on many of our TechXchange Talk videos. I am interested in a range of projects from robotics to artificial intelligence.