Re: /usr/bin/ld.so as a symbolic link for the dynamic loader

[Florian Weimer <fweimer@redhat.com>]

* Theodore Y. Ts'o:

> * How does ld.so --preload *work*?

The dynamic loader has an array of preloaded sonames, and it processes
them before loading the dependencies of the main program.  This way,
definitions in the preloaded objects preempt definitions in the shared
objects.

> * Does it modify /bin/ls, so that all users running /bin/ls get the
> preloaded library?

No, it's purely a run-time change.

The global setting is in /etc/ld.so.preload.

> * Does it modify something in the user's home directory?

No.  Well, the shell might put that command into .bash_history, or
something like that.

> * How do you undo the effects ld.so --preload?

You run the program without the --preload option.  Or unset LD_PRELOAD.

Thanks,
Florian