kgdb_arch_handle_exception(9)

📦 version 7.3.1, in nixpkgs unstable

💅 kgdb_arch_handle_exception(9) — the Kernel API Manual, but make it make sense

okay so bestie, welcome to the glow-up edition of kgdb_arch_handle_exception(9) from the Kernel API Manual. this is the arch-specific GDB packet handler and it is literally the main character of your debugger's exception flow. buckle up 🎀

✨ NAME ✨

kgdb_arch_handle_exception — bestie, it handles architecture specific GDB packets. that's the whole vibe. 🦋

🌸 SYNOPSIS 🌸

int kgdb_arch_handle_exception (int vector , int signo , int err_code ,
char *remcom_in_buffer , char *remcom_out_buffer , struct pt_regs *regs );

like, six args, no notes. slay. 💅

🎀 ARGUMENTS 🎀

  • vector — the error vector of the exception that happened. i.e. what went down. 👀
  • signo — the signal number of the exception that happened. the ✨vibe check✨ number, basically.
  • err_code — the error code of the exception that happened. yes, there's a whole code for it, iconic.
  • remcom_in_buffer — the buffer of the packet we have read. it's the tea we already sipped 🍓
  • remcom_out_buffer — the buffer of BUFMAX bytes to write a packet into. BUFMAX bytes, exactly, not one more, not one less 💀
  • regs — the struct pt_regs of the current process. the whole little snapshot of who we are rn 🫶

🔥 DESCRIPTION 🔥

okay so here's the thing, and i need you to hear me on this: this function MUST handle the 'c' and 's' command packets. not "should", not "if it feels like it" — MUST. periodt. 👑

and also the packets to set / remove a hardware breakpoint, if used. ykyk, only if your hardware is actually doing that. 🧚

if there are additional packets which the hardware needs to handle, they are handled here too. like, this is the hangout spot for extra packet business. 🌈

now the return situation, which is giving very important:

  • return -1 if it wants to process more packets
  • return 0 or 1 if it wants to exit from the kgdb callback

that's it. that's the contract. get it wrong and it's giving chaos 😭

⭐ SEE ALSO ⭐

kernel file ./include/linux/kgdb.h — plus the whole friend group:

all of them. every single one. no cap. 🔥

ngl bestie, the "MUST" in that description is not a suggestion, it's a whole personality requirement. if you skip 'c' and 's' you're not quirky, you're broken 💀

and that's the page!! this icon lives in ./include/linux, dated October 2026, and yes, its name is still kgdb_arch_handle_exception(9) — she's not changing for anyone 💜 bye bestie, go handle some packets 🦋✨

📦 where this page comes from