Linux porting compatiblities

conetic · 04-22-2003, 03:36 PM

I need to understand. If I port my code to Linux, using Red Hat for example; are my binary executables and libraries able to run unchanged on the "pSeries", "iSeries", and "zSeries" machines?

I would be using a pSeries machine for the port.

Now I would assume, if I want to develop a 64bit version I would need a 64bit server. Again, would I need just any 64bit server? Or would I need a specific server for each release?

Thanks.

AJ Garza

Tinkster · 04-22-2003, 04:07 PM

Nope mate, Linux is not Java :)

Portable means that you can compile it
without changes to the source. If the CPU's
are different, so are the binaries (well, there
are kernel modules that will allow to execute
certain non-Linux binaries [at least on i386]).

Cheers,
Tink

conetic · 04-22-2003, 04:58 PM

Tink,

I was under the impression that RS/6000 cpu's ran a PowerPC cpu. And that all PowerPC cpu's would support the same instruction set, even as the processor family grows from one chip to the next. I am assuming 32-bit would run on all, and 64-bit would only run on 64-bit supported platforms.

Tinkster · 04-22-2003, 05:11 PM

You may be right mate, I thought that
the zSeries for instance (since it's listed
as a mainframe) would have a different
CPU from the other boxes ... :)

But then, recompile isn't a big deal,
anyway ;)

Cheers,
Tink

P.S.: AFAIK you can also compile
gcc to act as a cross-compiler, so you
wouldn't need the actual hardware you're
targeting.

squirrels · 06-09-2004, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tinkster
You may be right mate, I thought that
the zSeries for instance (since it's listed
as a mainframe) would have a different
CPU from the other boxes ...

But then, recompile isn't a big deal,
anyway

Cheers,
Tink

P.S.: AFAIK you can also compile
gcc to act as a cross-compiler, so you
wouldn't need the actual hardware you're
targeting.

I'm hardly an expert, but I figured I could interject. I DO know that the zSeries hardware actually has different CPUs for Linux than it does for its native OS. As for whether it's fully compatible with the x86 instruction set, that you'd have to ask IBM.