The GDB Remote Serial Protocol is a general purpose protocol for connecting to remote targets. It is invoked through the target remote and target extended-remote commands.

The protocol is a simple text command-response protocol. The GDB session acts as the client to the protocol. It issues commands to the server, which in turn must be implemented by the target. Any remote target can communicate with GDB by implementing the server side of the RSP. A number of stub implementations are provided for various architectures, which can be used as the basis of new implementations. The protocol is fully documented as an appendix within the main GDB User Guide [3].

It is strongly recommended that any new remote target should be implemented using the RSP, rather than by creating a new remote target protocol.