I don't know what to do here...

I must admit that I am compiling the source code on a fairly old LIBC (2.1) for an old machine that has NO 'sshd' nor 'ssh'.

I ran "./configure --with-md5" and it went through nicely, starting the compilation process is of a whole different matter.
here's the error:


make[1]: Entering directory `/openssh-3.7.1p1/openbsd-compat'
gcc -g -O2 -Wall -Wpointer-arith -Wno-uninitialized -I. -I.. -I. -I./.. -I/usr/local/ssl/include -DHAVE_CONFIG_H -c bsd-arc4random.c
In file included from /usr/include/sys/resource.h:27,
from ../includes.h:105,
from bsd-arc4random.c:25:
/usr/include/resourcebits.h:103: warning: `RLIM_INFINITY' redefined
/usr/include/asm/resource.h:26: warning: this is the location of the previous definition
In file included from /usr/include/sys/resource.h:27,
from ../includes.h:105,
from bsd-arc4random.c:25:
/usr/include/resourcebits.h:102: parse error before `('
make[1]: *** [bsd-arc4random.o] Error 1
make[1]: Leaving directory `/openssh-3.7.1p1/openbsd-compat'
make: *** [openbsd-compat/libopenbsd-compat.a] Error 2


any help is greatly appreciated.

Are you compiling for a Slackware system? If so and your using an older version, your going to probably need updated lib's and definitely updated openssl packages, etc.