HP-UX Linker and Libraries Release Notes (September, 2007 )

Link Time Support for Ordering Initializers Based on Compile Time Defined Priority
This version of the linker enables the ordering of initializers (within a load module) based on
the priorities that are specified at compile time. The priority can be specified in the source code,
or at compile time. If no priority is specified, the default priority settings are applied.
This feature is available only on Integrity systems.
Improved Fastbind Support to Validate Fastbind Data on a Per-Library Basis
The improved fastbind support validates the fastbind data on a per-library basis. When a library
patch is installed, dld exclusively invalidates the modified fastbind data for the corresponding
library. The fastbind data for the other libraries continue to be valid. The dld continues to use
the fastbind data for the modified shared library if the symbols that are exported from the shared
library are not modified.
Prior to this enhancement, dld invalidated all the fastbind data if any of the libraries were
modified. Hence, the fastbind tool required a rerun if any shared libraries used by the application
were patched.
This feature is available on Integrity systems and PA64 systems.
Improved Linker Error Messages to Distinguish Between Missing and Mismatched Libraries
The improved linker error messages distinguish between missing and mismatched libraries.
Prior to this change, the same error messages were displayed for missing and mismatched
libraries.
This feature is available on Integrity systems and PA64 systems.
New -emit_relocs Linker Option to Preserve Compiler Generated Relocation Sections in the Output
Binary
The -emit_relocs option enables the linker to preserve compiler-generated relocation sections
in the output binary. The input relocation information is stored in the executable, or the shared
library. This information provides the necessary support for third-party programming tools to
perform post-link instrumentation.
This option is available on Integrity systems and PA64 systems.
Support to Ignore Strip Options During Implicit Profile Linking
When the linker detects that a binary requires implicit profile collection support and additionally
detects that the strip options, -g, -x, and -s are enabled on the link-line, the linker is re-invoked
with the -I profile collection option and the strip options -g, -x, and -s are disabled.
This feature is only available on Integrity systems.
NOTE: The accurate method to link a profile-collection binary is to link the binary through the
compiler driver. This feature is applicable only for cases where the compiler driver is not available
on the system or for cases where the compile command cannot be modified.
Improved Diagnostics for Shared Library Mapping Errors
The dynamic linker reports detailed diagnostic information if an application fails to load because
of shared library mapping errors.
The improved diagnostic information indicates the region that is not mapped by dld, the mmap
arguments used in attempting to map this region, and the error message that is returned by
mmap.
This feature is available on Integrity systems and PA64 systems.
New Features in This Release 7