Skip site navigation (1)Skip section navigation (2)
Date:      Wed, 16 Oct 1996 21:25:26 +0930 (CST)
From:      Michael Smith <msmith@atrad.adelaide.edu.au>
To:        sos@FreeBSD.org
Cc:        msmith@atrad.adelaide.edu.au, jdp@polstra.com, hackers@FreeBSD.org
Subject:   Re: Linux compat issue(s)
Message-ID:  <199610161155.VAA03723@genesis.atrad.adelaide.edu.au>
In-Reply-To: <199610161145.NAA21933@ra.dkuug.dk> from "sos@FreeBSD.org" at Oct 16, 96 01:45:44 pm

next in thread | previous in thread | raw e-mail | index | archive | help
sos@FreeBSD.org stands accused of saying:
> > 
> > Native would be pointless, as native binaries will always be
> > identifiable.  The reason I ask is that for the situation where the
> 
> NO, wrong, we can't even see if the bin is native !!!!

Yes we can.  You're coming up with a means of identifying FreeBSD
binaries which JDP will be putting in the linker.  There aren't many
BSD ELF binaries out there, so _now_ is the time to mandate that for a
FreeBSD ELF binary to be recognised as such, it must be branded.

Alternatively, get JDP to use the PT_NOTE idea.  Regardless, a FreeBSD
ELF binary _must_ be uniquely identifiable; there is no room for
debate on this 8)

> Hypothetical ?? I have a SVR4 emu :), I just can't/wont't release the code...

If you're going to dangle teasers, at least explain them 8)

> I would wote for ALWAYS branding the ELF files, that way there is
> NO doubt what sex they are, thus giving least trouble.

Agreed.

> > The last ditch "I have no idea, winging it" case could just default to
> > the last interpreter in the list - that would let the user alter the
> > default if there were more than one available by unloading and
> > reloading the LKM.
> 
> I'd rather have it give up and say unknown binary format or something like
> that, or try running it as a FreeBSD ELF bin.

Please, no.  If it is unidentifiable, it is by definition not a FreeBSD
ELF binary.  I stand by "if it can't be identified, feed it to the 
most recently-loaded ELF interpreter and pray".

In the short term, this will have the happy side effect that static 
Linux ELF binaries will suddenly magically work, which is a Good Thing.

> Now, for a practical question, what should I call the little util ??
> 
> markelf, brandelf or just plan elf (fixelf sounds a bit harsh :) )

Heh.  "smurf"

> Soren Schmidt             (sos@FreeBSD.org)             FreeBSD Core Team

-- 
]] Mike Smith, Software Engineer        msmith@atrad.adelaide.edu.au    [[
]] Genesis Software                     genesis@atrad.adelaide.edu.au   [[
]] High-speed data acquisition and      (GSM mobile) 0411-222-496       [[
]] realtime instrument control          (ph/fax)  +61-8-267-3039        [[
]] Collector of old Unix hardware.      "Where are your PEZ?" The Tick  [[



Want to link to this message? Use this URL: <https://mail-archive.FreeBSD.org/cgi/mid.cgi?199610161155.VAA03723>