LD_ASSUME_KERNEL is an environ variable used by loader (part of GNU libc). Main reason for the existence of this option is availability of various threading models under linux. Many of the applications compiled with older libc will assume the linux threads model, and will not run with newer version of GNU libc. (e.g. realplayer, acrobat reader, etc.) With v2.6 series kernels, native threads will become de facto and LD_ASSUME_KERNEL will go away. (Of course all applications have to be recompiled with the new NTPL threading model.)

Amitay.

Shahed Moolji wrote:

Hello,

Is LD_ASSUME_KERNEL only specfic to the link loader on RedHat, or is it an integral part of the linux core ?

Thanks Shahed