What is the different between vmlinux and zImage?

alice95089 · 02-20-2005, 10:09 PM

Hi all,
I would like to ask:
Everytime i compile a new kernel image, there will be a runable image as zImage under <kernel directory>/arch/arm/boot/zImage and a file as "vmlinux" under the kernel direcotry:
# file vmlinux
vmlinux: ELF 32-bit LSB executable, ARM, version 1 (ARM), statically linked, not stripped

I would like to ask..what do that vmlinux used to as when i use the kgdb, i will use the vmlinux instead of zImage for cross-compiler section...

Thanks..
Alice

musicman_ace · 02-21-2005, 02:10 AM

typically from what i've seen, "vmlinuz" is just a link to the systems kernel image which in your case is zImage.