have one distribution on one hdd (a) and another one another hdd (b) and one application that i want to run on either of the hdd's. each distribution is to run on a different machine with a different chipset and a different processor therefore different kernels. both distrbutions are different.

the application is built on hdd (a) and then transfered to hdd (b).

the app runs fine on (a) but doesnt on (b), whereby it crashes out with an illegal instruction.

so what i do is add the kernel from hdd (b) to hdd (a). i then plug hdd (a) into the machine (b). the application works fine.

I know what you are thinking, libs missing check strace check ldd. all checks out ok.

another thing to add: machine (b) is an updated machine to the one i used to use which used the distribution that is now on machine (b) with the hdd (b). It used a very slightly different kernel (litterally the only thing changed here is the processor and chipset) and the application worked fine.

so what else can i do here to find out whats happened?

The problem must be because of different processor types. Which types are both kernels compiled for? And which options you use when you compile the application (optimization for a specific processor, maybe?)?

well like i say the kernel for machine (b) i copied to the hdd (a) then put it in machine (b) and the app worked. With the same kernel in hdd (b) it doesnt work. I know the distribution is ok because i used it (abeit with a different chipset and processor compiled into the kernel) on the machine that (b) was upgraded from.

It can only mean that; in compiling in that new processor and chipset, the kernel must call or access something that hdd (a) has and (b) doesnt.

FYI the processor on (b) is a VIA C3/EDEN (it does 3d now style stuff so i guess its more AMD than intel) and a VT86CXXX chipset.

Also putting debug into the app source code i have narrowed down where the program is crashing and its a function call to openssl, but i doubt this has much to do with it.

like i said, i dont know and i dont know what to do next. i'll try anything.

does this mean anything?

Maybe compile a standard Pentium kernel? It should run OK on all modern machines.

tried 386 and 586 settings to no avail.

should also be noted that hdd (b) is a compact flash card but is read like a harddrive (and indeed works fine on my other client).

the other client where hdd (b) worked had the Geode type processor with the Cyrix MediaGX CS5530.

The only thing that i can deduce is that it got to be some corrolation to the Eden processor or VT86CXXX chipset and using the compact flash card. because the application works with a normal ide drive.