# Develop Icinga 2
This chapter provides hints on Icinga 2 development
especially for debugging purposes.
> **Note**
>
> If you are planning to build your own development environment,
> please consult the `INSTALL.md` file from the source tree.
## Debug Requirements
Make sure that the debug symbols are available for Icinga 2.
The Icinga 2 packages provide a debug package which must be
installed separately for all involved binaries, like `icinga2-bin`
or `icinga2-ido-mysql`.
Debian/Ubuntu:
# apt-get install icinga2-dbg
RHEL/CentOS:
# yum install icinga2-debuginfo
Fedora:
# dnf install icinga2-debuginfo icinga2-bin-debuginfo icinga2-ido-mysql-debuginfo
SLES/openSUSE:
# zypper install icinga2-bin-debuginfo icinga2-ido-mysql-debuginfo
Furthermore, you may also have to install debug symbols for Boost and your C library.
If you're building your own binaries, you should use the `-DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Debug` cmake
build flag for debug builds.
## GDB
Install gdb:
Debian/Ubuntu:
# apt-get install gdb
RHEL/CentOS/Fedora:
# yum install gdb
SLES/openSUSE:
# zypper install gdb
Install the `boost`, `python` and `icinga2` pretty printers. Absolute paths are required,
so please make sure to update the installation paths accordingly (`pwd`).
$ mkdir -p ~/.gdb_printers && cd ~/.gdb_printers
Boost Pretty Printers compatible with Python 3:
$ git clone https://github.com/mateidavid/Boost-Pretty-Printer.git && cd Boost-Pretty-Printer
$ git checkout python-3
$ pwd
/home/michi/.gdb_printers/Boost-Pretty-Printer
Python Pretty Printers:
$ cd ~/.gdb_printers
$ svn co svn://gcc.gnu.org/svn/gcc/trunk/libstdc++-v3/python
Icinga 2 Pretty Printers:
$ mkdir -p ~/.gdb_printers/icinga2 && cd ~/.gdb_printers/icinga2
$ wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Icinga/icinga2/master/tools/debug/gdb/icingadbg.py
Now you'll need to modify/setup your `~/.gdbinit` configuration file.
You can download the one from Icinga 2 and modify all paths.
Example on Fedora 22:
$ wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Icinga/icinga2/master/tools/debug/gdb/gdbinit -O ~/.gdbinit
$ vim ~/.gdbinit
set print pretty on
python
import sys
sys.path.insert(0, '/home/michi/.gdb_printers/icinga2')
from icingadbg import register_icinga_printers
register_icinga_printers()
end
python
import sys
sys.path.insert(0, '/home/michi/.gdb_printers/python')
from libstdcxx.v6.printers import register_libstdcxx_printers
try:
register_libstdcxx_printers(None)
except:
pass
end
python
import sys
sys.path.insert(0, '/home/michi/.gdb_printers/Boost-Pretty-Printer')
import boost_print
boost_print.register_printers()
end
If you are getting the following error when running gdb, the `libstdcxx`
printers are already preloaded in your environment and you can remove
the duplicate import in your `~/.gdbinit` file.
RuntimeError: pretty-printer already registered: libstdc++-v6
### GDB Run
Call GDB with the binary (`/usr/sbin/icinga2` is a wrapper script calling
`/usr/lib64/icinga2/sbin/icinga2` since 2.4) and all arguments and run it in foreground.
# gdb --args /usr/lib64/icinga2/sbin/icinga2 daemon -x debug --no-stack-rlimit
The exact path to the Icinga 2 binary differs on each distribution. On Ubuntu
it is installed into `/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/icinga2/sbin/icinga2` on 64-bit systems
for example.
> **Note**
>
> If gdb tells you it's missing debug symbols, quit gdb and install
> them: `Missing separate debuginfos, use: debuginfo-install ...`
Run the application.
(gdb) r
Kill the running application.
(gdb) k
Continue after breakpoint.
(gdb) c
### GDB Core Dump
Either attach to the running process using `gdb -p PID` or start
a new gdb run.
(gdb) r
(gdb) generate-core-file
### GDB Backtrace
If Icinga 2 aborted its operation abnormally, generate a backtrace.
(gdb) bt
(gdb) thread apply all bt full
If gdb stops at a SIGPIPE signal please disable the signal before
running Icinga 2.
(gdb) handle SIGPIPE nostop noprint pass
(gdb) r
If you create a [bug report](https://www.icinga.com/community/get-involved/),
make sure to attach as much detail as possible.
### GDB Backtrace from Running Process
If Icinga 2 is still running, generate a full backtrace from the running
process and store it into a new file (e.g. for debugging dead locks):
Icinga 2 runs with 2 processes, therefore generate two backtrace logs
and add them to the GitHub issue.
```
for pid in $(pidof icinga2); do gdb -p $pid -batch -ex "thread apply all bt full" -ex "detach" -ex "q" > gdb_bt_${pid}_`date +%s`.log; done
```
### GDB Thread List from Running Process
Instead of a full backtrace, you sometimes just need a list of running threads.
```
for pid in $(pidof icinga2); do gdb -p $pid -batch -ex "info threads" -ex "detach" -ex "q" > gdb_threads_${pid}_`date +%s`.log; done
```
### GDB Backtrace Stepping
Identifying the problem may require stepping into the backtrace, analysing
the current scope, attributes, and possible unmet requirements. `p` prints
the value of the selected variable or function call result.
(gdb) up
(gdb) down
(gdb) p checkable
(gdb) p checkable.px->m_Name
### GDB Breakpoints
To set a breakpoint to a specific function call, or file specific line.
(gdb) b checkable.cpp:125
(gdb) b icinga::Checkable::SetEnablePerfdata
GDB will ask about loading the required symbols later, select `yes` instead
of `no`.
Then run Icinga 2 until it reaches the first breakpoint. Continue with `c`
afterwards.
(gdb) run
(gdb) c
If you want to delete all breakpoints, use `d` and select `yes`.
(gdb) d
> **Tip**
>
> When debugging exceptions, set your breakpoint like this: `b __cxa_throw`.
Breakpoint Example:
(gdb) b __cxa_throw
(gdb) r
(gdb) up
....
(gdb) up
#11 0x00007ffff7cbf9ff in icinga::Utility::GlobRecursive(icinga::String const&, icinga::String const&, boost::function const&, int) (path=..., pattern=..., callback=..., type=1)
at /home/michi/coding/icinga/icinga2/lib/base/utility.cpp:609
609 callback(cpath);
(gdb) l
604
605 #endif /* _WIN32 */
606
607 std::sort(files.begin(), files.end());
608 BOOST_FOREACH(const String& cpath, files) {
609 callback(cpath);
610 }
611
612 std::sort(dirs.begin(), dirs.end());
613 BOOST_FOREACH(const String& cpath, dirs) {
(gdb) p files
$3 = std::vector of length 11, capacity 16 = {{static NPos = 18446744073709551615, m_Data = "/etc/icinga2/conf.d/agent.conf"}, {static NPos = 18446744073709551615,
m_Data = "/etc/icinga2/conf.d/commands.conf"}, {static NPos = 18446744073709551615, m_Data = "/etc/icinga2/conf.d/downtimes.conf"}, {static NPos = 18446744073709551615,
m_Data = "/etc/icinga2/conf.d/groups.conf"}, {static NPos = 18446744073709551615, m_Data = "/etc/icinga2/conf.d/notifications.conf"}, {static NPos = 18446744073709551615,
m_Data = "/etc/icinga2/conf.d/satellite.conf"}, {static NPos = 18446744073709551615, m_Data = "/etc/icinga2/conf.d/services.conf"}, {static NPos = 18446744073709551615,
m_Data = "/etc/icinga2/conf.d/templates.conf"}, {static NPos = 18446744073709551615, m_Data = "/etc/icinga2/conf.d/test.conf"}, {static NPos = 18446744073709551615,
m_Data = "/etc/icinga2/conf.d/timeperiods.conf"}, {static NPos = 18446744073709551615, m_Data = "/etc/icinga2/conf.d/users.conf"}}
## Core Dump
When the Icinga 2 daemon crashes with a `SIGSEGV` signal
a core dump file should be written. This will help
developers to analyze and fix the problem.
### Core Dump File Size Limit
This requires setting the core dump file size to `unlimited`.
Example for Systemd:
vim /usr/lib/systemd/system/icinga2.service
[Service]
...
LimitCORE=infinity
systemctl daemon-reload
systemctl restart icinga2
Example for init script:
vim /etc/init.d/icinga2
...
ulimit -c unlimited
service icinga2 restart
Verify that the Icinga 2 process core file size limit is set to `unlimited`.
cat /proc/`pidof icinga2`/limits
...
Max core file size unlimited unlimited bytes
### Core Dump Kernel Format
The Icinga 2 daemon runs with the SUID bit set. Therefore you need
to explicitly enable core dumps for SUID on Linux.
sysctl -w fs.suid_dumpable=1
Adjust the coredump kernel format and file location on Linux:
sysctl -w kernel.core_pattern=/var/lib/cores/core.%e.%p
install -m 1777 -d /var/lib/cores
MacOS:
sysctl -w kern.corefile=/cores/core.%P
chmod 777 /cores
### Core Dump Analysis
Once Icinga 2 crashes again a new coredump file will be written. Please
attach this file to your bug report in addition to the general details.
Simple test case for a `SIGSEGV` simulation with `sleep`:
ulimit -c unlimited
sleep 1800&
[1]
kill -SEGV
gdb `which sleep` /var/lib/cores/core.sleep.
(gdb) bt
rm /var/lib/cores/core.sleep.*
Analyzing Icinga 2:
gdb /usr/lib64/icinga2/sbin/icinga2 core.icinga2.
(gdb) bt