gcc 3.3.2 (i386) doesn't compile kernel sources

gcc 3.3.2 (i386) doesn't compile kernel sources

[Ralf Gesellensetter]

Dear Developer,

it was in 1991, when I used gcc for the first time on a Unix system. As 
to err is human, one always has to account one or another bug. At the 
moment, I am in a situation where I either
- have to downgrade to the gcc version my kernel was compiled with (but 
version 2.95.4 is not in your archive!)
- have to recompile my kernel using the currently installed 3.3.2 
version of gcc.

As some of the errors should not occur at all, I assume there is a bug 
in the preprocessor. The sources of the kernel 2.4-22 are ubiquious, 
all other details are given on this wiki page I made:

http://www.lug-owl.de/cgi-bin/wiki/ErrorCompilingKernel20031125

Sorry for intervening ;)
thanx
cu
Ralf

Re: gcc 3.3.2 (i386) doesn't compile kernel sources

[Jim Wilson]

Ralf Gesellensetter wrote:
> - have to downgrade to the gcc version my kernel was compiled with (but 
> version 2.95.4 is not in your archive!)

There is no FSF gcc 2.95.4 release.  That might be a reference to 
unreleased sources from our cvs repository.  Or it might be a custom gcc 
release from your OS vencor.

> - have to recompile my kernel using the currently installed 3.3.2 
> version of gcc.

If you check, you may already have multiple gcc versions installed on 
your machine.  Try "ls /usr/bin/*gcc*".  If you don't already have them 
installed, they there is probably an optional package you can install. 
This varies from one OS to the next, however, my experience is that the 
compiler used to compile the linux kernel is always available in a 
package from the linux vendor.  It kind of has to be there, or else the 
linux vendor wouldn't have been able to compile it in the first place.

> As some of the errors should not occur at all, I assume there is a bug 
> in the preprocessor. The sources of the kernel 2.4-22 are ubiquious, 
> all other details are given on this wiki page I made:

It is common that old linux kernel versions won't compile with new gcc 
versions.  This is because the linux kernel is very sensitive to the gcc 
version used to compile it.  This isn't something we can fix.  Either 
use an older gcc, or use a newer kernel.
-- 
Jim Wilson, GNU Tools Support, http://www.SpecifixInc.com