Sections (.got .got2 .gcc_except_table .fixup), what are they for?

Sections (.got .got2 .gcc_except_table .fixup), what are they for?

[Jeff Lasslett]

Hello,

I originally asked this question on the gcc-help mailing list but was advised
that the question might best be posed here.

My target is powerpc-eabi.

I can't seem to find an explanation of the nature of the following sections:

.got

.got2

.gcc_except_table

.fixup


My questions are as follows ...

For each section mentioned,
	(a) what is stored in the section?
	(b) should it be in ROM or RAM?
	    (Is its contents adjusted at runtime?)

I've currently got them all in flash (ROM) and it all seems to work but I'm
nervous because I don't know why it works or whether it will always work.

Cheers,
	Jeff

Re: Sections (.got .got2 .gcc_except_table .fixup), what are they for?

[Nick Clifton]

Hi Jeff,

> My target is powerpc-eabi.
> 
> I can't seem to find an explanation of the nature of the following 
> sections:

> .got
Try looking at the PowerPC EABI document.  You can download a copy from 
here:

   ftp://ftp.linuxppc64.org/pub/people/amodra/

> .got2

This must be similar to the .got section, although I do not know its 
exact semantics.

> .gcc_except_table

This is to do with C++ exception handling.

> .fixup

I think that this section is redundant and was only used by old versions 
of gcc.

Cheers
   Nick