How to static link Linux software that uses ./configure?

Question

I would like to compile NRPE static, so I can copy the compiled binary to an OmniOS server, where I don't want gcc to be installed on. I would prefer to install NRPE with SSl support from a repository, but such doesn't seam to exist, so I would like to compile it myself. However the ./configure script doesn't contain a static option it seams

~/nrpe-2.15# ./configure --help | grep static
~/nrpe-2.15# ./configure --help | grep share
  --datadir=DIR          read-only architecture-independent data [PREFIX/share]
  --sharedstatedir=DIR   modifiable architecture-independent data [PREFIX/com]

Question

How do I compile a program that uses configure statically?

It seems that this package does not support static linking... — Claudio, Nov 19 '13 at 10:28
possible duplicate of [How to staticly-link a complex program](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/983515/how-to-staticly-link-a-complex-program) — Gerald Senarclens de Grancy, Oct 02 '14 at 08:24

score 38 · Accepted Answer · answered Nov 19 '13 at 11:35

38

Try this:

./configure LDFLAGS="-static"

answered Nov 19 '13 at 11:35

ams

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But I get a lot of `warning: Using 'xxx' in statically linked applications requires at runtime the shared libraries from the glibc version used for linking` – gatopeich Sep 24 '14 at 15:31
Yes, that's true, there are some things that will be `dlopen`d at runtime. I think DNS lookups need this, for one. It's not ideal. :-( – ams Sep 24 '14 at 15:52
If you are trying to static link against glibc, you can't run on OmniOS anyway, which requires the illumos libc -- glibc only works with a Linux kernel. – alanc Apr 29 '15 at 05:54
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I'm getting `configure: error: C++ compiler cannot create executables` when I run this flag. – Bryce Guinta Mar 11 '17 at 17:47
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My error was caused by a missing package, `libstdc++-static` since the program under question was using c++. [This tutorial helped me](https://www.systutorials.com/5217/how-to-statically-link-c-and-c-programs-on-linux-with-gcc/) – Bryce Guinta Mar 11 '17 at 18:46

srd · Answer 2 · 2019-01-15T12:46:09.650

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For people coming from google, I found that if you have libtool part of your build, you will need to:

./configure CFLAGS="-static" ....
make LDFLAGS="-all-static"

You can see that -all-static with libtool --help --mode=link

edited Jan 15 '19 at 12:46

answered Jan 13 '19 at 11:19

srd

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It's important here that, as shown, `LDFLAGS="-all-static"` is given _only_ to `make`, and not set at `./configure` time, because otherwise it would break the configure scripts (because only the `libtool` wrapper accepts it, compilers like `gcc` themselves do not). – nh2 Aug 11 '19 at 02:35
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Yet another reason to hate autotools. :( – user1202136 Nov 21 '20 at 19:09
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Just a heads up, be sure to note the generated LDFLAGS from `configure`'s output. You may be required to re-add any other options that are present, like `-L` to include specific library paths. – Mr. Llama Jun 29 '22 at 18:46

How to static link Linux software that uses ./configure?

2 Answers2