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

[Jeff Lasslett]

Ian Lance Taylor wrote:
> Jeff Lasslett <jeff.lasslett@datataker.com.au> writes:
> 
>> I can't seem to find an explanation of the nature of the following sections:
> 
> The question may be more appropriate for the binutils@sourceware.org
> mailing list.  See http://sourceware.org/binutils/.

I've now asked it there as well.

> You neglected to mention your target.  It matters.

powerpc-eabi

> 
>> .got
>>
>> .got2
> 
> These will contain the global offset table.
> 
>> .gcc_except_table
> 
> This will contain information used for unwinding the stack during
> exception handling.
> 
>> .fixup
> 
> The Linux kernel uses this section to record relocation information
> used at run time.

Could I then expect it to be empty as I'm not using linux on my target?

> To see whether the section can be stored in ROM or RAM, see whether it
> is readonly.  You can do this via objdump -h or readelf -S.  A
> readonly section may be stored in ROM.  Otherwise it must normally be
> in RAM.
> 
> Most likely all the sections above can be stored in ROM.

Thanks for the explanation Ian.


Cheers,
	Jeff