Upgrading the GNU C Compiler to ELF

URL's

The Linux ELF HOWTO

http://sunsite.unc.edu/mdw/HOWTO/ELF-HOWTO.html

Moving to ELF

http://www.kublai.com/elf.shtml

Linux and ELF (US Site)

http://www.blackdown.org/elf/elf.html

Linux and ELF (UK Site)

http://www.sjc.ox.ac.uk/users/barlow/elf.html

Latest Packages (as of 14 January 1996)

• binutils-2.6.0.2.bin.tar.gz - ELF GNU binary utilities
• gcc-2.7.2.bin.tar.gz - ELF GNU C compiler with a.out support
• ld.so-1.7.10.tar.gz - ELF dynamic linker
• libc-5.2.18.bin.tar.gz - ELF C libraries
• libg++-2.7.1.3.tar.gz - ELF C++ libraries

Upgrading your system to ELF

Create a partition scheme that is easily upgradable.

Disk /dev/hdb: 64 heads, 63 sectors, 621 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 4032 * 512 bytes

Device Boot     Begin   Start     End  Blocks   Id  System              Mount Point
/dev/hdb1           1       1     275  554368+   6  DOS 16-bit >=32M    /dos
/dev/hdb2         276     276     301   52416   83  Linux native        /
/dev/hdb3         302     302     454  308448   83  Linux native        /usr
/dev/hdb4         455     455     621  336672    5  Extended
/dev/hdb5         455     455     556  205600+  83  Linux native        /usr/local
/dev/hdb6         557     557     592   72544+  83  Linux native        /usr/src
/dev/hdb7         593     593     608   32224+  83  Linux native        /var
/dev/hdb8         609     609     621   26176+  83  Linux native        /tmp
/dev/hda3         355     355     367   26208   82  Linux swap
/dev/hda7         562     562     621  120928+  83  Linux native        /home

A 'typical' Slackware installation will install most of its files on the '/', '/usr' and '/var' filesystems. The other filesystems remain in tact and can store unique system and user files.

Archive System Configuration Files

If you have system configuration files that you want to retain when the root and user partitions are upgraded be sure to archive them before upgrading your system.

The following shell script is one example of an easy way to backup and restore system configuration files:

#!/bin/sh

FILELIST="/etc/hosts /etc/lilo.conf /etc/passwd /etc/printcap    \
/etc/resolv.conf /etc/termcap /etc/DIR_COLORS /etc/rc.d/rc.local \
/root/.profile /usr/X11R6/lib/X11/XF86Config.bluenote            \
`find /usr/spool/lpd/hp -print`"

# Other ideas: /etc/motd /etc/csh.{cshrc,login} /etc/mailrc
# /etc/hosts.{allow,deny,equiv,lpd} /etc/exports etc...

tar -cf /tmp/sys_backup $FILELIST

Install Linux

Reinstall your favorite binary distribution selecting both the a.out and ELF compilers if you intend to develop both a.out and ELF executables. Install the a.out and ELF libraries if you expect to run a.out and ELF executables.

Note: the a.out compiler is not necessary to run a.out executables, only to build a.out executables.

Last Modified: 15 January 1996