gdbserver is a computer program that makes it possible to remotely debug other programs.^[1] Running on the same system as the program to be debugged, it allows the GNU Debugger to connect from another system; that is, only the executable to be debugged needs to be resident on the target system ("target"), while the source code and a copy of the binary file to be debugged reside on the developer's local computer ("host"). The connection can be either TCP or a serial line.

How it works

1. gdbserver is launched on the target system, with the arguments:
   • Either a device name (to use a serial line) or a TCP hostname and port number, and
   • The path and filename of the executable to be debugged

   It then waits passively for the host gdb to communicate with it.

2. gdb is run on the host, with the arguments:
   • The path and filename of the executable (and any sources) on the host, and
   • A device name (for a serial line) or the IP address and port number needed for connection to the target system.

Example for debugging a program called hello_world on a remote target using TCP ("2159" is the registered TCP port number for remote GDB):

remote@~$ gdbserver :2159 hello_world
Process hello_world created; pid = 2509
Listening on port 2159

local@~$ gdb -q hello_world
Reading symbols from /home/user/hello_world...done.
(gdb) target remote 192.168.0.11:2159
Remote debugging using 192.168.0.11:2159
0x002f3850 in ?? () from /lib/ld-linux.so.2
(gdb) continue
Continuing.

Program received signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault.
0x08048414 in main () at hello_world.c:10
10	        printf("x[%d] = %g\n", i, x[i]);
(gdb)

Alternatives

Another technique for debugging programs remotely is to use a remote stub.^{[2][clarification needed]} In this case, the program to be debugged is linked with a few special-purpose subroutines that implement the GDB remote serial protocol. The file containing these subroutines is called a "debugging stub".