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Binary compatibility between Linux and other OSes



OK, let me get some things about binary compatiblity, and by that I mean
the ability to run compiled executables on a different OS or a different
machine than the one they were compiled for.

The way I understood it, the various ports of UNIX have no binary
compatiblity between one another. That is, one cannot run an i386
executable on a Linux running on an Alpha or a SPARC, MIPS, or Mac, and
vice versa, even though they all have the same object file format - ELF. I
do not imply that the sources of the executable will not compile under the
other platforms, but it's also possible if Assembler is used, or due to
big/little endianism, padding and that kind of stuff. 

However, in previous messages people said one can run Solaris x86 or SCO
UNIX executables on an x86 Linux, (because they also use ELF) and someone
even said he managed to run Oracle for SCO on his Linux (!).

And here are some more questions for clarification:
1. Are SCO, Solaris x86 and Linux precisely identical downright to their
signals, ioctl parameter values, terminal drivers etc. to allow perfect
compatibility?

2. Can SPARC-Linux run Sparc-Solaris executables (and vice versa)? Can
MIPS-Linux run IRIX' executables? Can Alpha Linux run the executables of
Alpha's Digital Unix?

3. What about a.out binaries of NetBSD or OpenBSD on the relevant
platforms? (are they still a.out)? What about FreeBSD?


BTW, Ira, are you satisfied with my new sig? I stashed my old one in my
webpage, which is under construction at the moment?






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Shlomi Fish                                Smart Link Ltd.
Home E-mail: shlomif@ibm.net               Work E-mail: shlomi@slink.co.il
Home Page: http://www.slink.co.il/~shlomi

"Had I not been already insane, I would have long ago driven myself mad."

                            The Enemy and how I Helped to Fight it.
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