Re: How to reserve an Elf e_machine value

[Stephen Andieta <andietas at yahoo dot com>]

Yep, my request to registry@caldera.com just bounced, so I will live with a random number.

Thanks,

Stephen

----- Original Message ----
From: Michael Meissner <michael.meissner@amd.com>
To: Stephen Andieta <andietas@yahoo.com>
Cc: gcc@gcc.gnu.org
Sent: Wednesday, June 4, 2008 7:44:30 AM
Subject: Re: How to reserve an Elf e_machine value

On Tue, Jun 03, 2008 at 08:46:44AM -0700, Stephen Andieta wrote:
> 
> I am working on a compiler kit for an in-house processor that uses Elf as
> object file format. Since this compiler will be released to external
> customers, I need to reserve an 'official' e_machine value for this
> processor. Somehow I am unable to find out how to reserve such a value. How
> should I do this?
>    Thanks,   Stephen.

This is a binutils problem, not a GCC.

The problem is the company that assigns the official numbers (SCO) is rapidily
spinning out of control, and may not be responsive any more.  When I registered
EM_MEP in 2003, the address used was registry@caldera.com.

If you can't get an official number, there is this comment in elf/common.h:

/* If it is necessary to assign new unofficial EM_* values, please pick large
   random numbers (0x8523, 0xa7f2, etc.) to minimize the chances of collision
   with official or non-GNU unofficial values.

   NOTE: Do not just increment the most recent number by one.
   Somebody else somewhere will do exactly the same thing, and you
   will have a collision.  Instead, pick a random number.

   Normally, each entity or maintainer responsible for a machine with an
   unofficial e_machine number should eventually ask registry@caldera.com for
   an officially blessed number to be added to the list above.    */

-- 
Michael Meissner, AMD
90 Central Street, MS 83-29, Boxborough, MA, 01719, USA
michael.meissner@amd.com