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Base kernel compatibility

Executable formats

This section deals with the kernel's ability to recognize and start the load process for binaries of various types. This includes setting compatibility switches so the kernel can make decisions based on that knowledge when processing various system calls and libray routines.

The SCO OpenServer kernel marks Executable and Linking Format (ELF) binaries in a distinctive way. The UnixWare 7 kernel uses this information to switch on SCO OpenServer semantics for system calls.

When the UnixWare 7 kernel loads an ELF executable, the ELF processing code looks at the ELF note section of the executable and, if it is 28 bytes long, it assumes the executable is an SCO OpenServer ELF executable.

UnixWare 7 also provides a command that specifically mark the ELF flags section with a special string; the UnixWare 7 kernel checks for this string in the flag section and, if present, assumes the executable is an SCO OpenServer ELF executable. Using elfmark(1), any ELF binary can be marked as an SCO OpenServer binary.


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UnixWare 7 Release 7.1.4 - 27 April 2004