Date: Thu, 27 Jun 2002 00:15:52 -0700 (PDT) From: Matthew Dillon <dillon@apollo.backplane.com> To: Klaus Steden <klaus@compt.com> Cc: Roger Marquis <marquis@roble.com>, security@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: Legacy Static Linking (was: Security Advisory FreeBSD-SA-02:28.resolv) Message-ID: <200206270715.g5R7Fqv9065615@apollo.backplane.com> References: <20020626183519.F36946-100000@roble.com> <20020627012510.X589@cthulu.compt.com>
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Yes, our /bin and /sbin contain static-linked binaries. Stuff in /usr
typically contains dynamically linked binaries. The reasons are:
* So we can keep the root partition small (not have to put some of the
dynamic link libraries in root or need a /lib).
* Safety. When things go wrong having critical system boot and recovery
programs statically linked will save your bacon. It's certainly saved
mine! Lots of things can go wrong, from a bad system upgrade to a
blown filesystem to simple mistakes by developers.
Static linking eats a little extra space but that's about it. Statically
linked binaries will actually start up more quickly and use less 'dirty'
memory (due to not having to do any run-time linking) so it isn't a
performance issue, really. Having the small number of programs in
/bin and /sbin statically linked makes sense, and having the much greater
number of programs in /usr dynamically linked to save space also makes
sense.
-Matt
Matthew Dillon
<dillon@backplane.com>
:>
:> This makes a good case for doing away with static linking of system
:> binaries.
:>
:> Why does FreeBSD have statically linked binaries?
:>
:I dunno, I find static binaries pretty damn useful as bootstrap and recovery
:tools on broken systems that don't necessarily run FreeBSD but whose disks I
:have to preserve.
:
:Static binaries still have a purpose, inasmuch as dynamic binaries have a
:purpose. I would be disappointed to discover static linking done away with ...
:however, a system-wide compile time option might not be a bad idea.
:
:$0.02,
:Klaus
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