Re: Kernel compiler

[Pete Popov <ppopov@pacbell.net>]

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Original Message <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

On 11/3/00, 6:53:26 PM, Ralf Baechle <ralf@oss.sgi.com> wrote regarding Re: 
Kernel compiler:


> On Sat, Nov 04, 2000 at 01:44:22PM +1100, Keith Owens wrote:

> > On Fri, 3 Nov 2000 22:19:26 +0100,
> > Ralf Baechle <ralf@oss.sgi.com> wrote:
> > >Due to compiler bugs with named initializers the use of egcs 1.1.2 has
> > >ben deprecated for Linux; Linux 2.4.0-test10 will refuse to compile with
> > >older compilers.
> >
> > Correction.  gcc 2.7 has been deprecated, the recommended version is
> > gcc 2.91.66 (also known as egcs 1.1.2) or better.  Unfortunately RedHat
> > created an unofficial 2.96 which is known to miscompile the kernel, so
> > you cannot just use the "latest" gcc.  It is believed that gcc versions
> > 2.91.66 through 2.95 inclusive are safe, as long as you use
> > -fno-strict-aliasing.

> Sigh, yes you're right as other have already pointed out on IRC ...

> Gcc 2.7 is no longer being used for Linux/MIPS since a long time and I'd
> simply bitbucket any bugreport related to it.  Most people are using egcs
> 1.0.3a for everything which is older than the required minimum version 
1.1.2,
> so we're in some trouble.

> I've got reports regarding the 1.1.2 crosscompiler which say that it
> misscompiles MIPS kernels, sigh ...

What are the symptoms of a "miscompiled" kernel and how does one detect 
that (assuming that the kernel actually compiles successfully, but has 
problems running).

Pete