LWN: Comments on "Special sections in Linux binaries"

Special sections in Linux binaries

firolwn — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 03:03:03 +0000

Should be the latter.

Special sections in Linux binaries

WhatDaniel — Fri, 14 Jun 2019 12:57:16 +0000

I am sorry to bother, I would like to know how the alternatives mechanism works. Do you have more detailed information? Or can you introduce it?
I question that the alternatives mechanism means when the old instruction is accessed, then the corresponding new instruction position is executed by the alternatives mechanism, or the old instructions has been covered by the new instructions? Thank you by the way.

（很抱歉打扰了，我想请问一下替代机制是怎么工作的？我很好奇，它是在执行到旧指令的时候再去跳转到新指令的位置处去执行呢，还是系统将新指令拷贝到了旧指令的位置处，覆盖掉了旧指令这样的？谢谢！）

Special sections in Linux binaries

tlw — Wed, 01 May 2013 21:05:24 +0000

http://kernelnewbies.org/Documents/InitcallMechanism

Special sections in Linux binaries

gartim — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 19:20:22 +0000

nice write up, wondered about some the kernel usage of Section/Segments!

Special sections in Linux binaries

Aissen — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 15:03:17 +0000

So because Android's dynamic linker/loader isn't perfect, it's best to restrain using a feature in your software ?

Special sections in Linux binaries

jonabbey — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 22:46:02 +0000

Fantastic article, nicely done.

Special sections in Linux binaries

nix — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 14:13:31 +0000

No, this is in fact a valid use of Stallman's terminology, since the binaries being referred to are explicitly *Linux* binaries, that is to say, binaries of the Linux kernel itself. GNU/Linux binaries were what I at first thought the article was about, but the article has little to do with non-Linux-kernel stuff (other than things that also pertain to all ELF objects).

Special sections in Linux binaries

nickbp — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 02:53:01 +0000

It'd need to say "GNU/Linux" for that.

Special sections in Linux binaries

felixfix — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 03:56:58 +0000

Well .... I think Mr Stallman would like the title as is.

Special sections in Linux binaries

johill — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 20:12:58 +0000

I've used this in "iw" (http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Documentation/iw), but it turns out that it is problematic on Android, so one does well to not use such a thing in userspace.

Special sections in Linux binaries

nix — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 11:49:56 +0000

Good article!

The title is arguably wrong, though: it should be titled 'Special sections in Linux kernel binaries', since it only relates to binaries *of* the Linux kernel, not (as I at first thought) to userspace binaries that run *on* Linux.

(Also, the alternatives mechanism isn't just for boot time anymore: it can run at any time. CPU hotplugging needs this when transitioning from a one-CPU system to a system with more CPUs, but it's useful elsewhere as well.)