./configure tells me I need "lcrypt"-what is this?
 

I have succeeded in unpacking 'linux-2.4.4.tar.gz. I have also unpacked and am now attempting to install util-linux-2.10o.tar.gz, as recommended in 'linux/documentation/changes'. I cd'd to 'util-linux-2.10o' and typed ./configure. Everything seemed to work out okay, with 'you have' messages scrolling down my screen. Only one 'you need' showed up and this is where I need some help.
What is '-lcrypt'?
What does it do?
Do I need it?
What else can anyone tell me about this?
Thanks, in advance, for your help.

-lcrypt means the linker asks for crypt library, should be in /lib as libcrypt.so and libcrypt.a. Else find it in glibc, libc6-dev or likewise.
if asked for, should be provided, Id say.
some things do happen for a reason, even on linux...

in util-linux this simply tells the user that they need to set -lcrypt in the CCFLAGS

util-linux appears to do this correctly if you have libcrypt on your system (see include_makefile after you run ./configure)