'final link failed: Bad value' when building Linux/MIPS kernels.

Greetings.

I have been chasing down a binutils regression that is preventing me from building a Linux/MIPS kernel using a gcc-4.2 based toolchain. Here is the snippet of output when building a 2.6.12 kernel for my platform:

     LD      drivers/mtd/maps/built-in.o
     LD      drivers/mtd/nand/built-in.o
     LD      drivers/mtd/built-in.o

mipsel-linux-uclibc-ld: final link failed: Bad value make[1]: *** [drivers/mtd/built-in.o] Error 1
make: *** [_module_drivers/mtd] Error 2

The versions were:

binutils-2.17.50.0.12
gcc-4.2-20070131
linux-headers-2.6.12

Using the release version of binutils-2.17 works fine and does not produce the error above. However, binutils-HEAD out of today's CVS and all of H.J. Lu's development releases > 2.17.50.0.3 will produce the error. The regression appeared in binutils-2.17.50.0.4 and still exists. The simple patch is:

--- binutils-2.17.50.0.12/bfd/elfxx-mips.c
+++ binutils-2.17.50.0.12-patched/bfd/elfxx-mips.c
@@ -3603,12 +3603,9 @@
const Elf_Internal_Rela *relocation, const Elf_Internal_Rela *relend)
{
- unsigned long r_symndx = ELF_R_SYM (abfd, relocation->r_info); -
while (relocation < relend)
{
- if (ELF_R_TYPE (abfd, relocation->r_info) == r_type
- && ELF_R_SYM (abfd, relocation->r_info) == r_symndx)
+ if (ELF_R_TYPE (abfd, relocation->r_info) == r_type)

           return relocation;

          ++relocation;

I applied to binutils-HEAD and was then able to build a valid Linux/MIPS kernel and applications. I need to move on to other items, but if someone could comment or have a look at this, it would be much appreciated. If a better formatted bug report should be submitted somewhere, just let me know. Thanks.

-Steve

I suggest you open a bug report with all input files for drivers/mtd/built-in.o and drivers/mtd/.built-in.o.cmd. You can find input filenames in drivers/mtd/.built-in.o.cmd.

H.J.

Steven> Greetings. I have been chasing down a binutils regression Steven> that is preventing me from building a Linux/MIPS kernel using Steven> a gcc-4.2 based toolchain. Here is the snippet of output when Steven> building a 2.6.12 kernel for my platform:

 Steven>      LD      drivers/mtd/maps/built-in.o
 Steven>      LD      drivers/mtd/nand/built-in.o
 Steven>      LD      drivers/mtd/built-in.o
 Steven>    mipsel-linux-uclibc-ld: final link failed: Bad value
 Steven>    make[1]: *** [drivers/mtd/built-in.o] Error 1
 Steven>    make: *** [_module_drivers/mtd] Error 2

I've run into the same message when building things for a NetBSD/MIPS
target. I had assumed it was some error on my end.

The problem with this message is that it is completely content-free. It doesn't contain a meaningful problem statement, and it doesn't say anything at all about where the problem is. It doesn't even indicate
what input file triggered the problem! How is a user supposed to fix
a failed build when this error message appears?

paul

Please file a bug report with all input files for the linker. I will at least provide clear diagnostic messages.

H.J.