Long link time with gcc 3.2.2

[kadreg at free dot fr]

Hello,

I'm compiling an huge application on redhat. On my old 7.3 with a gcc 3.0, the
link phase take about 5 minutes.

Now, on redhat 9 with gcc 3.2.2, the link of the same application, with the same
parameters (approximately, only -g ) and on the same model of computer take an
hour. I attached a gdb to ld and did a backtrace to see the callstack to see
where is he.

Each time i tried it, it is in the function _bfd_merge_section. I try some
research, and I found this :

http://gcc.gnu.org/ml/gcc-bugs/2003-01/msg01403.html

But, if I restart the link with the -fno-merge-constants, I don't see any speed
difference. I attach my gdb, I see the same kind of backtrace. Just notice i
don't spend time in htab_find_slot_with_hash, as a difference with the other case.

Is anyone can see what can be the reason of that speed difference, and how can I
speed up my linking ?

Waiting for your answer,

                  Jerome Pequery