10. Tracing — RTEMS User Manual 5.4-rc2 (21st August 2026) documentation

# 10. Tracing

RTEMS Tracing Framework is an on-target software based system which helps track the ongoings inside the operation of applications, third-party packages, and the kernel in real time.

Software based tracing is a complex process which requires components on both the target and the host to work together. However its portability across all architectures and board support packages makes it a useful asset. A key requirement in RTEMS trace process is to take existing code in compiled format (ELF) and instrument it in order to log various events and records in real time. However instrumenting of the code for tracing should happen without rebuilding the code from the source and without annotating the source with trace code.

- 10.1. Introduction to Tracing
  - 10.1.1. RTEMS Trace Using Trace Buffering
  - 10.1.2. RTEMS Trace Using Printk
- 10.2. Tracing Examples
  - 10.2.1. Features
  - 10.2.2. Prerequisites
  - 10.2.3. Demonstration
- 10.3. Capture Engine
  - 10.3.1. Capture Engine Commands
  - 10.3.2. Example
- 10.4. Trace Linker
  - 10.4.1. Command Line
  - 10.4.2. Configuration (INI) files
    - 10.4.2.1. Tracer Section
    - 10.4.2.2. Options section
    - 10.4.2.3. Trace Section
    - 10.4.2.4. Function Section
    - 10.4.2.5. Generators
  - 10.4.3. Development
- 10.5. Event Recording
  - 10.5.1. Target System: Configuration and Event Generation
  - 10.5.2. Transfer of Event Records to the Host Computer
  - 10.5.3. Analysis of Event Records on the Host Computer