AIX 4.3 archive libraries AIX 4.3 utilizes a new "large format" archive to support both 32-bit and 64-bit object modules. The routines provided in AIX 4.3.0 and AIX 4.3.1 to parse archive libraries did not handle the new format correctly. These routines are used by GCC and result in error messages during linking such as "not a COFF file". The version of the routines shipped with AIX 4.3.1 should work for a 32-bit environment. The "-g" option of the archive command may be used to create archives of 32-bit objects using the original "small format". A correct version of the routines is shipped with AIX 4.3.2. AIX 4.3 assembler The AIX 4.3.0.0 assembler generates incorrect object files if the ".bs" pseudo-op references symbols in certain sections. If GCC is invoked with the -g debugging option (including during bootstrapping), incorrect object files will be produced and the AIX linker will fail with a severe error. A fix for APAR IX74254 (64BIT DISASSEMBLED OUPUT FROM COMPILER FAILS TO ASSEMBLE/BIND) is available from IBM Customer Support and from its service.boulder.ibm.com website as PTF U453956. AIX 4.1 binder Some versions of the AIX binder (linker) can fail with a relocation overflow severe error when the -bbigtoc option is used to link GCC-produced object files into an executable that overflows the TOC. Linking f771, the GNU Fortran backend, will fail in this manner. A fix for APAR IX75823 (OVERFLOW DURING LINK WHEN USING GCC AND -BBIGTOC) is available from IBM Customer Support and from its website as PTF U455193. Due to changes in the way that GCC invokes the binder (linker) for AIX 4.1, the link step now may produce warnings of duplicate symbols which were not reported before. The assembly files generated by GCC for AIX always have included multiple symbol definitions for certain global variable and function declarations in the original program. The warnings should not prevent the linker from producing a correct library or runnable executable. AIX NLS problems AIX on the RS/6000 provides support (NLS) for environments outside of the United States. Compilers and assemblers use NLS to support locale-specific representations of various objects including floating-point numbers ("." vs "," for separating decimal fractions). There have been problems reported where the library linked with GCC does not produce the same floating-point formats that the assembler accepts. If you have this problem, set the LANG environment variable to "C" or "En_US". AIX 3.2.5 XLC-1.3 problems XLC version 1.3.0.0 distributed with AIX 3.2.5 will miscompile jump.c when building the stage1 compiler during the bootstrap process. This will cause GCC to crash and the bootstrap to fail later while compiling libgcc2.c. XLC version 1.3.0.1 or later fixes this problem. XLC-1.3.0.19 also cannot bootstrap GCC so please avoid that release as well. You can obtain XLC-1.3.0.24 by requesting PTF 432238 from IBM, or just ask for the latest release of XLC-1.3. There also have been reports of problems bootstrapping GCC with some older releases of xlc-1.2.1, including xlc-1.2.1.8. Newer releases of xlc-1.2.1 do not exhibit this problem: xlc-1.2.1.28 is known to bootstrap properly. AIX 3.2 common-mode support AIX common-mode providing transparent support of both the POWER and PowerPC architectures is usable in AIX 3.2.3 and above but an export file and support for hidden export via libc.a will not exist until AIX 4.1. libgcc.a also must be compiled in common-mode. Note that executables generated for the POWER (RIOS1 and RSC) architecture will run directly on systems using the MPC601 chip. Common-mode only improves the performance of a single executable run on both POWER and PowerPC architecture platforms by not using POWER- or PowerPC-specific instructions and eliminating the need to trap to emulation (for POWER instructions run on PowerPC). To link a common-mode application prior to AIX 4.1 and run it on a system at AIX level 3.2.3 or above, use the text between the "<>" as an export file (e.g. milli.exp) <><><><><><><><><><><> #! __mulh 0x3100 __mull 0x3180 __divss 0x3200 __divus 0x3280 __quoss 0x3300 __quous 0x3380 <><><><><><><><><><><> and then link with -Wl,-bI:milli.exp. AIX 3.1 and 3.2 assembler problems Specifying the -g flag to GCC on the RS/6000 requires upgrading the standard AIX assembler distributed with AIX 3.1 and versions of AIX 3.2 earlier than 3.2.4 with a replacement that is available from IBM. Note that Makefile.in specifies the -g when compiling libgcc2.c. You can test for the presence of a fixed assembler by entering the following: % as -u < /dev/null If the command exits normally, the assembler fix already is installed. If the assembler complains that "-u" is an unknown flag, you need to order the fix. If you are running AIX 3.1 (lslpp -h bos.obj output reports 03.01.0005.XXXX where the 0005 can be any higher number and the XXXX can be any value), call IBM Support at 800-237-5511 and ask for shipment of AIX/6000 fix PTF U403044 for APAR IX22829 (.extern foo conflicts with defining foo). If you are running AIX 3.2 but not 3.2.4 or later (lslpp -h bos.obj output reports 03.02.0000.0000), a newer update to the assembler fix is available. Ask for shipment of AIX/6000 fix PTF U416277 for IX32992 (.global prevents detection of duplicate symbol). If you are running AIX 3.2.4 or later, you already have the new assembler. Any customer can order and get the replacement assembler, and install it on one or more machines. It is available on diskette from IBM Customer Support and from its website. If you contact IBM Customer Support, they may also ask you for your customer number. If you do not know it, you will still be able to get the fix, but you will have to be persistent. IBM has corresponding support organizations outside of North America. Call your IBM branch office and ask them to put you in touch with the department that handles fixes for AIX/6000. If that doesn't work, ask for the department that handles software defect support for AIX/6000 and ask for the APAR fix. If you use the GNU assembler instead of the system supplied assembler, you need an assembler modified after October 16th, 1995 in order to build the GNU C compiler. This is because the GNU C compiler wants to build a variant of its library, libgcc.a with the -mcpu=common switch to support building programs that can run on either the Power or PowerPC machines.