This training aims to enable developers with Linux background to develop FreeBSD kernel modules and drivers in particular. It is focused on the general understanding of the concepts and consists mainly of hands on experience, rather than theoretical explanations.

1. Training overview
FreeBSD device
drivers in depth

2. Copyright (C) 2016 Semihalf. All rights reserved.Semihalf Expert To Expert Academy
Summary
● Overview/Objectives
This training aims to enable developers with Linux background to develop FreeBSD kernel modules
and drivers in particular. It is focused on the general understanding of the concepts and consists
mainly of hands on experience, rather than theoretical explanations.
● Duration
3 days
● Number of participants
min 2, max 8 (assuming pair programming)
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3. Copyright (C) 2016 Semihalf. All rights reserved.Semihalf Expert To Expert Academy
Contents of the training (1)
1. Linux vs. FreeBSD
● Differences between Linux and
FreeBSD, kernel primitives (mutexes,
locks, conditional variables),
● Threads (kthread, callout, taskqueue)
● Memory and time management
● Modules and drivers.
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2. Kernel drivers
● Declaring, building and loading the
kernel module
● DMA memory and registers handling
(bus_dma, bus_space)
● PCI handling including SR-IOV
(Virtual/Physical functions)
● device hierarchy and enumeration
(newbus)
● The kernel object
● Pitfalls and common mistakes.

4. Copyright (C) 2016 Semihalf. All rights reserved.Semihalf Expert To Expert Academy
Contents of the training (2)
3. Debugging and troubleshooting
● Review and usage examples of the
observability tools including Dtrace,
FlameGraphs, KGDB, KTR/ktrace
buffer
● In-kernel debugger (DDB)
● Postmortem analysis including kernel
core dumps
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4. Code upstream
● How to work with FreeBSD community
● Phabricator tool
● Coding style
● Implementing and maintaining
common driver code (contrib directory,
OS independent layer).

5. Contact us!
academy@semihalf.com
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