Post by: obcd on June 14, 2007, 04:03:00 AM
I am new to xbox development, so forgive me if this is a stupid question.
As far as I could read, normal application debugging on the xbox goes trough the ethernet port.
So, I was wondering, what are the extras you can do with the kernel debugger. When I read trough these articles, I can see that it uses additional hardware to create a serial port trough the LPC bus. I only found some blurry pictures of that board. As mentionned in some articles, it probably uses a multi IO chip with LPC bus interface.
So, here are my questions.
1. What are the benefits of kernel debugging over application debugging? I guess, if you wan't to see what your modified bios is doing, you will need the kernel debugger. If you wan't to port a emulator or write your own game, the xdk debugger will do the job for you?
2. Does anyone has clear pictures of the kernel debugger additional serial port hardware? The description written on the large chip on the board might also help. I am thinking of trying to find some old pc motherboards with the same multi io chip. (if it is not some sort of custom asic.) I have checked ebay already for such a board, but couldn't find one. I guess the proper chip, a TTL to RS232 level converter and some decoupling capacitors might do the job. If someone would know if handshake lines are necessairy, that would even be greater.
3. Are there other sources where I could find such a board? (I mailed Bill Gates already, but he doesn't reply.
)The other board used to emulate the dvd drive doesn't seem that interesting. I don't think I will ever have something that microsoft is willing to bring out on a dvd. and I prefer to have my applications on the harddisk.
Any comments or links to usefull articles about the topic will be highly appreciated.
thanks in advance.
regards.