AIX binary compatibility
AIX® binary compatibility allows applications that were created on earlier releases or technology levels of AIX to run unchanged and without recompilation on later releases or technology levels of AIX. For example, an application that is created on AIX 5L can run on AIX Version 7.1, or later.
The ability to run applications that were created on an earlier version of an operating system on a later level of the operating system is known as backward compatibility. Applications must use only portable programming techniques for binary compatibility on any platform.
- Applications from AIX 5L and AIX Version 6.1
- 32-bit and 64-bit applications can run on AIX Version 7.1, or later, without recompilation if the applications use portable programming techniques.
- 32-bit applications from AIX Version 4
- These applications can run on AIX Version 7.1, or later, without recompilation if the applications use portable programming techniques.
- 64-bit applications from AIX Version 4
- Any 64-bit applications that are compiled on AIX Version 4 are not binary compatible with AIX 5L, AIX Version 6.1, or AIX Version 7.1, or later. These versions of AIX are source compatible with 64-bit applications that are created on AIX Version 4. To make 64-bit applications from AIX Version 4 compatible with later version of AIX, you must recompile the application on a system that is running AIX 5L, AIX Version 6.1, or AIX Version 7.1, or later.
- 32-bit applications from AIX Version 3
- These applications can run on AIX Version 7.1, or later, without recompilation if the applications use portable programming techniques.
A system that uses AIX Version 7.2, or later, might operate as a server for client machines that are running an earlier version of AIX. In this case, the server operates only if the necessary compatibility options are installed. All conditions about binary compatibility apply in this scenario.