Converting Object Capabilities to Symbol Capabilities
Ideally, the compiler can generate objects that are identified with symbol capabilities. If the compiler can not create symbol capabilities, the link-editor offers a solution.
A relocatable object that defines object capabilities can be transformed into a relocatable object that defines symbol capabilities using the link-editor. Using the link-editor -z symbolcap
option, any capability data section is converted to define symbol capabilities. All global functions within the object are converted into local functions, and are associated with symbol capabilities. All global initialized data items are converted to local data items, and are associated with symbol capabilities. These transformed symbols are appended with any capability identifier specified as part of the object capabilities group. If a capability identifier is not defined, a default group name is appended.
For each original global function or initialized data item, a global reference is created. This reference is associated to any relocation requirements, and provides for binding to a default, global symbol when this object is finally combined to create a dynamic object.
Note:
The-z symbolcap
option only applies to objects that contain an object capabilities section. The option has no affect upon relocatable objects that already contain symbol capabilities, relocatable objects that contain both object and symbol capabilities, or relocatable objects that contain no capabilities. This design allows multiple objects to be combined by the link-editor, with only those objects that contain object capabilities being affected by the option.
In the following example, a x86 relocatable object contains two global functions foo
() and bar
(). This object has been compiled to require the MMX
and SSE
hardware capabilities. In these examples, the capabilities group has been named with a capabilities identifier entry. This identifier name is appended to the transformed symbol names. Without this explicit identifier, the link-editor appends a default capabilities group name.
$ elfdump -H foo.o Capabilities Section: .SUNW_cap Object Capabilities: index tag value [0] CA_SUNW_ID sse,mmx [1] CA_SUNW_HW_1 0x840 [ SSE MMX ] $ elfdump -s foo.o | egrep "foo|bar" [25] 0 0x21 FUNC GLOB D 0 .text foo [26] 0x24 0x1e FUNC GLOB D 0 .text bar $ elfdump -r foo.o | fgrep foo R_386_PLT32 0x38 .rel.text foo
This relocatable object can now be transformed into a symbol capabilities relocatable object.
$ ld -r -o foo.1.o -z symbolcap foo.o $ elfdump -H foo.1.o Capabilities Section: .SUNW_cap Symbol Capabilities: index tag value [1] CA_SUNW_ID sse,mmx [2] CA_SUNW_HW_1 0x840 [ SSE MMX ] Symbols: index value size type bind oth ver shndx name [25] 0 0x21 FUNC LOCL D 0 .text foo%sse,mmx [26] 0x24 0x1e FUNC LOCL D 0 .text bar%sse,mmx $ elfdump -s foo.1.o | egrep "foo|bar" [25] 0 0x21 FUNC LOCL D 0 .text foo%sse,mmx [26] 0x24 0x1e FUNC LOCL D 0 .text bar%sse,mmx [37] 0 0 FUNC GLOB D 0 UNDEF foo [38] 0 0 FUNC GLOB D 0 UNDEF bar $ elfdump -r foo.1.o | fgrep foo R_386_PLT32 0x38 .rel.text foo
This object can now be combined with other objects containing instances of the same functions, associated with different symbol capabilities, to produce a dynamic object. In addition, a default instance of each function, one that is not associated with any symbol capabilities, must be provided to lead each capabilities family. This default instance provides for all external references, and ensures that an instance of the function is available on any system.
At runtime, any references to foo
() and bar
() are directed to the lead instances. However, the runtime linker selects the best symbol capabilities instance if the system accommodates the appropriate capabilities.