Running 3.x binaries

[Dan Nelson]

In the last episode (Sep 16), eng at donut.ugcs.caltech.edu said:
> I've just been given a whole bunch of binaries that had been compiled
> under FreeBSD 3.4 and asked to make them run under our modern 4.10
> systems.
> 
> I'm considering a couple of options + was hoping for some
> commentary on them:
> 
> 1) setup a chroot environment with the old 3.x system
> (using the destdir directive on a 3.x buildworld)
> 2) Copy over the old libraries and install them in the usual
> places

Option 2 should work just fine.  Installing the misc/compat3x port will
get you most if not all of the required libraries (comment out the
FORBIDDEN= line in the Makefile).  If your programs depend on
port-installed libraries, copy them off the old system into
/usr/local/lib/compat/.  The only stumbling block you might run into is
if both the old and the new system have a shared library with the same
major number.  Old binaries will try and link to the new shlib and may
have problems.
 
> Are there any kernel options I need to ensure that the old
> libc will work?

You needed to change the max pid value for 2.2.x compatibility, I
think, but 3.x binaries should work with no adjustments.

> p.s.  please reply to me directly as I do _not_ subscribe to
> the list.

That's standard procedure on FreeBSD.org lists.

-- 
	Dan Nelson
	dnelson at allantgroup.com