Debugging low level kernel crashes
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Kernel Configuration
- You need to activate some options in the kernel configuration. Everything is under the section "Kernel Hacking".
Non GPL modules
- If you run non GPL modules such as the nvidia drivers, it is very difficult to get a kernel to build with some debugging support, as it needs the modules to be GPL too. Most of the times, the system will refuse to boot.
Alt SysRq
- This combination of keys (plus another one) allows to control the kernel even if X is completely crashed. You can output interesting information (this goes through the system logger though), or give the system some commands.
- Note that you must activate this key in the kernel configuration; you can have it even with binary non GPL kernel modules.