How to install a package that contains Ubuntu kernel debug symbols?

Question

The default Ubuntu kernel -generic package doesn't seem to have symbols in it.

I'm trying to avoid compile a kernel with debug info manually.

Does Ubuntu provide a package with kernel debug symbols?

Answer 1

1. First create a ddebs.list using:

   echo "deb http://ddebs.ubuntu.com $(lsb_release -cs) main restricted universe multiverse" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ddebs.list
   

2. Then add the GPG key for ddebs.ubuntu.com:

   wget -O - http://ddebs.ubuntu.com/dbgsym-release-key.asc | sudo apt-key add -
   

3. Then run:

   sudo apt-get update
   

4. Then install the symbols package using:

   sudo apt-get install linux-image-`uname -r`-dbgsym
   

   This is rather huge (>680MB), so prepare for a wait while you download it.

^{I use the Linux kernel debug symbols for tools like systemtap on the kernel.}

Answer 2

I tried Colin Ian King's answer and it did not work for me. I found out I must add two extra lines in /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ddebs.list

Edit the file via

sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ddebs.list

and add the two lines below

deb http://ddebs.ubuntu.com trusty-updates main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://ddebs.ubuntu.com trusty-proposed main restricted universe multiverse

Replace trusty with your version that you get when you execute

lsb_release -cs

Answer 3

For 16.04+:

GPG key import

sudo apt-key adv --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys C8CAB6595FDFF622 

Add repository config

codename=$(lsb_release -c | awk  '{print $2}')
sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ddebs.list << EOF
deb http://ddebs.ubuntu.com/ ${codename}      main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://ddebs.ubuntu.com/ ${codename}-security main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://ddebs.ubuntu.com/ ${codename}-updates  main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://ddebs.ubuntu.com/ ${codename}-proposed main restricted universe multiverse
EOF

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install linux-image-$(uname -r)-dbgsym

(credit to Ubuntu Wiki)