Can't compile erlang under Dell Powerdge 2850 bi-processor

[Mikael Pettersson]

On Wed, 07 Jun 2006 15:41:53 +0200, Yann Rouillard wrote:
>>  > What is strange is that I already successfully compiled and used erlang
>>  > 10.b.9 on another computer (Pentium Pro mono-pro), but if I try to use
>>  > on the Powerdge the binaries compiled on the Pentium, erl segfaults.
>> 
>> I suspect the two machines don't have the exact same libraries etc.
>
>Debian Sarge was installed on both machines, so I am not sure the
>problem lies here.
>
>> You're not saying anything about the OS, C compiler, or C library versions.
>
>The OS is Debian Sarge, the C compiler is the default one, gcc 3.3.5.
>The Linux kernel is different (it shouldn't be important here, no ?),
>2.6.16 from Debian Backports on the Pentium Pro where erlang works,
>2.4.27 debian one on the Dell Powerdge.
>
>> As a first step, configure R10B-10 with --disable-hipe and try rebuilding it.
>> If that makes R10B-10 work then it's an issue with your C libraries.
>
>Ok --disable-hipe solved the problem. Thanks for your help.
>
>I still don't understand why this problem only happens on that machine.
>Both machines are Debian Sarge without modification except  the kernel
>for the Pentium Pro machine.

In most Linux systems, running a 2.4 or a 2.6 kernel affects which
implementation of pthreads the C library will use: typically a 2.4
kernel causes it to use LinuxThreads while a 2.6 kernel causes it
to use NPTL, but this depends on how the C library was configured
when it was built. Furthermore, LinuxThreads can be configured with
or without so-called "floating stacks", and with or without support
for a global per-thread pointer in an x86 segment register, and I'm
fairly sure that one of these configurations don't work well with
HiPE/x86's signal handling stuff. FWIW, HiPE/x86 has been known to
work on every RedHat/Fedora release from RH6.2 up to FC5.

/Mikael