diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 554dcaddbce4..0d5cdaa72d5f 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -802,13 +802,12 @@ KBUILD_CFLAGS += $(call cc-option, -fno-inline-functions-called-once)
 endif
 
 ifdef CONFIG_LD_DEAD_CODE_DATA_ELIMINATION
-KBUILD_CFLAGS	+= $(call cc-option,-ffunction-sections,)
-KBUILD_CFLAGS	+= $(call cc-option,-fdata-sections,)
+KBUILD_CFLAGS_KERNEL	+= $(call cc-option,-ffunction-sections,)
+KBUILD_CFLAGS_KERNEL	+= $(call cc-option,-fdata-sections,)
 endif
 
 # arch Makefile may override CC so keep this after arch Makefile is included
 NOSTDINC_FLAGS += -nostdinc -isystem $(call shell-cached,$(CC) -print-file-name=include)
-CHECKFLAGS     += $(NOSTDINC_FLAGS)
 
 # warn about C99 declaration after statement
 KBUILD_CFLAGS += $(call cc-option,-Wdeclaration-after-statement,)
@@ -878,6 +877,12 @@ ifeq ($(CONFIG_STRIP_ASM_SYMS),y)
 LDFLAGS_vmlinux	+= $(call ld-option, -X,)
 endif
 
+# insure the checker run with the right endianness
+CHECKFLAGS += $(if $(CONFIG_CPU_BIG_ENDIAN),-mbig-endian,-mlittle-endian)
+
+# the checker needs the correct machine size
+CHECKFLAGS += $(if $(CONFIG_64BIT),-m64,-m32)
+
 # Default kernel image to build when no specific target is given.
 # KBUILD_IMAGE may be overruled on the command line or
 # set in the environment
@@ -1763,7 +1768,7 @@ quiet_cmd_rmfiles = $(if $(wildcard $(rm-files)),CLEAN   $(wildcard $(rm-files))
 # Run depmod only if we have System.map and depmod is executable
 quiet_cmd_depmod = DEPMOD  $(KERNELRELEASE)
       cmd_depmod = $(CONFIG_SHELL) $(srctree)/scripts/depmod.sh $(DEPMOD) \
-                   $(KERNELRELEASE) "$(patsubst y,_,$(CONFIG_HAVE_UNDERSCORE_SYMBOL_PREFIX))"
+                   $(KERNELRELEASE)
 
 # Create temporary dir for module support files
 # clean it up only when building all modules
diff --git a/arch/Kconfig b/arch/Kconfig
index b695a3e3e922..8a7f7e1f2ca7 100644
--- a/arch/Kconfig
+++ b/arch/Kconfig
@@ -597,21 +597,6 @@ config CC_STACKPROTECTOR_AUTO
 
 endchoice
 
-config LD_DEAD_CODE_DATA_ELIMINATION
-	bool
-	help
-	  Select this if the architecture wants to do dead code and
-	  data elimination with the linker by compiling with
-	  -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections and linking with
-	  --gc-sections.
-
-	  This requires that the arch annotates or otherwise protects
-	  its external entry points from being discarded. Linker scripts
-	  must also merge .text.*, .data.*, and .bss.* correctly into
-	  output sections. Care must be taken not to pull in unrelated
-	  sections (e.g., '.text.init'). Typically '.' in section names
-	  is used to distinguish them from label names / C identifiers.
-
 config HAVE_ARCH_WITHIN_STACK_FRAMES
 	bool
 	help
@@ -687,12 +672,6 @@ config MODULES_USE_ELF_REL
 	  Modules only use ELF REL relocations.  Modules with ELF RELA
 	  relocations will give an error.
 
-config HAVE_UNDERSCORE_SYMBOL_PREFIX
-	bool
-	help
-	  Some architectures generate an _ in front of C symbols; things like
-	  module loading and assembly files need to know about this.
-
 config HAVE_IRQ_EXIT_ON_IRQ_STACK
 	bool
 	help
diff --git a/arch/alpha/Makefile b/arch/alpha/Makefile
index 2cc3cc519c54..c5ec8c09c0c6 100644
--- a/arch/alpha/Makefile
+++ b/arch/alpha/Makefile
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 NM := $(NM) -B
 
 LDFLAGS_vmlinux	:= -static -N #-relax
-CHECKFLAGS	+= -D__alpha__ -m64
+CHECKFLAGS	+= -D__alpha__
 cflags-y	:= -pipe -mno-fp-regs -ffixed-8
 cflags-y	+= $(call cc-option, -fno-jump-tables)
 
diff --git a/arch/arm/Makefile b/arch/arm/Makefile
index e4e537f27339..f32a5468d79f 100644
--- a/arch/arm/Makefile
+++ b/arch/arm/Makefile
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ endif
 KBUILD_CFLAGS	+=$(CFLAGS_ABI) $(CFLAGS_ISA) $(arch-y) $(tune-y) $(call cc-option,-mshort-load-bytes,$(call cc-option,-malignment-traps,)) -msoft-float -Uarm
 KBUILD_AFLAGS	+=$(CFLAGS_ABI) $(AFLAGS_ISA) $(arch-y) $(tune-y) -include asm/unified.h -msoft-float
 
-CHECKFLAGS	+= -D__arm__ -m32
+CHECKFLAGS	+= -D__arm__
 
 #Default value
 head-y		:= arch/arm/kernel/head$(MMUEXT).o
diff --git a/arch/arm64/Makefile b/arch/arm64/Makefile
index 87f7d2f9f17c..3c353b4715dc 100644
--- a/arch/arm64/Makefile
+++ b/arch/arm64/Makefile
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ LDFLAGS		+= -maarch64linux
 UTS_MACHINE	:= aarch64
 endif
 
-CHECKFLAGS	+= -D__aarch64__ -m64
+CHECKFLAGS	+= -D__aarch64__
 
 ifeq ($(CONFIG_ARM64_MODULE_PLTS),y)
 KBUILD_LDFLAGS_MODULE	+= -T $(srctree)/arch/arm64/kernel/module.lds
diff --git a/arch/ia64/Makefile b/arch/ia64/Makefile
index 2dd7f519ad0b..45f59808b842 100644
--- a/arch/ia64/Makefile
+++ b/arch/ia64/Makefile
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ READELF := $(CROSS_COMPILE)readelf
 
 export AWK
 
-CHECKFLAGS	+= -m64 -D__ia64=1 -D__ia64__=1 -D_LP64 -D__LP64__
+CHECKFLAGS	+= -D__ia64=1 -D__ia64__=1 -D_LP64 -D__LP64__
 
 OBJCOPYFLAGS	:= --strip-all
 LDFLAGS_vmlinux	:= -static
diff --git a/arch/mips/Makefile b/arch/mips/Makefile
index 5e9fce076ab6..e2122cca4ae2 100644
--- a/arch/mips/Makefile
+++ b/arch/mips/Makefile
@@ -309,9 +309,6 @@ ifdef CONFIG_MIPS
 CHECKFLAGS += $(shell $(CC) $(KBUILD_CFLAGS) -dM -E -x c /dev/null | \
 	egrep -vw '__GNUC_(|MINOR_|PATCHLEVEL_)_' | \
 	sed -e "s/^\#define /-D'/" -e "s/ /'='/" -e "s/$$/'/" -e 's/\$$/&&/g')
-ifdef CONFIG_64BIT
-CHECKFLAGS		+= -m64
-endif
 endif
 
 OBJCOPYFLAGS		+= --remove-section=.reginfo
diff --git a/arch/openrisc/Makefile b/arch/openrisc/Makefile
index cf8802962864..89076a66eee2 100644
--- a/arch/openrisc/Makefile
+++ b/arch/openrisc/Makefile
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ LDFLAGS_vmlinux :=
 LIBGCC 		:= $(shell $(CC) $(KBUILD_CFLAGS) -print-libgcc-file-name)
 
 KBUILD_CFLAGS	+= -pipe -ffixed-r10 -D__linux__
-CHECKFLAGS	+= -mbig-endian
 
 ifeq ($(CONFIG_OPENRISC_HAVE_INST_MUL),y)
 	KBUILD_CFLAGS += $(call cc-option,-mhard-mul)
diff --git a/arch/parisc/Makefile b/arch/parisc/Makefile
index 34ac503e28ad..714284ea6cc2 100644
--- a/arch/parisc/Makefile
+++ b/arch/parisc/Makefile
@@ -22,13 +22,13 @@ KBUILD_IMAGE := vmlinuz
 KBUILD_DEFCONFIG := default_defconfig
 
 NM		= sh $(srctree)/arch/parisc/nm
-CHECKFLAGS	+= -D__hppa__=1 -mbig-endian
+CHECKFLAGS	+= -D__hppa__=1
 LIBGCC		= $(shell $(CC) $(KBUILD_CFLAGS) -print-libgcc-file-name)
 export LIBGCC
 
 ifdef CONFIG_64BIT
 UTS_MACHINE	:= parisc64
-CHECKFLAGS	+= -D__LP64__=1 -m64
+CHECKFLAGS	+= -D__LP64__=1
 CC_ARCHES	= hppa64
 LD_BFD		:= elf64-hppa-linux
 else # 32-bit
diff --git a/arch/powerpc/Kconfig b/arch/powerpc/Kconfig
index f674006dea2f..9c0ee1859323 100644
--- a/arch/powerpc/Kconfig
+++ b/arch/powerpc/Kconfig
@@ -198,6 +198,7 @@ config PPC
 	select HAVE_KPROBES
 	select HAVE_KPROBES_ON_FTRACE
 	select HAVE_KRETPROBES
+	select HAVE_LD_DEAD_CODE_DATA_ELIMINATION
 	select HAVE_LIVEPATCH			if HAVE_DYNAMIC_FTRACE_WITH_REGS
 	select HAVE_MEMBLOCK
 	select HAVE_MEMBLOCK_NODE_MAP
diff --git a/arch/powerpc/kernel/vmlinux.lds.S b/arch/powerpc/kernel/vmlinux.lds.S
index b8d82678f8b4..dd10e6f1d1b7 100644
--- a/arch/powerpc/kernel/vmlinux.lds.S
+++ b/arch/powerpc/kernel/vmlinux.lds.S
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ SECTIONS
 	 */
 	.text BLOCK(0) : AT(ADDR(.text) - LOAD_OFFSET) {
 #ifdef CONFIG_LD_HEAD_STUB_CATCH
-		*(.linker_stub_catch);
+		KEEP(*(.linker_stub_catch));
 		. = . ;
 #endif
 
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ SECTIONS
 		ALIGN_FUNCTION();
 #endif
 		/* careful! __ftr_alt_* sections need to be close to .text */
-		*(.text.hot .text .text.fixup .text.unlikely .fixup __ftr_alt_* .ref.text);
+		*(.text.hot TEXT_MAIN .text.fixup .text.unlikely .fixup __ftr_alt_* .ref.text);
 		SCHED_TEXT
 		CPUIDLE_TEXT
 		LOCK_TEXT
@@ -184,10 +184,10 @@ SECTIONS
 	.init.data : AT(ADDR(.init.data) - LOAD_OFFSET) {
 		INIT_DATA
 		__vtop_table_begin = .;
-		*(.vtop_fixup);
+		KEEP(*(.vtop_fixup));
 		__vtop_table_end = .;
 		__ptov_table_begin = .;
-		*(.ptov_fixup);
+		KEEP(*(.ptov_fixup));
 		__ptov_table_end = .;
 	}
 
@@ -208,26 +208,26 @@ SECTIONS
 	. = ALIGN(8);
 	__ftr_fixup : AT(ADDR(__ftr_fixup) - LOAD_OFFSET) {
 		__start___ftr_fixup = .;
-		*(__ftr_fixup)
+		KEEP(*(__ftr_fixup))
 		__stop___ftr_fixup = .;
 	}
 	. = ALIGN(8);
 	__mmu_ftr_fixup : AT(ADDR(__mmu_ftr_fixup) - LOAD_OFFSET) {
 		__start___mmu_ftr_fixup = .;
-		*(__mmu_ftr_fixup)
+		KEEP(*(__mmu_ftr_fixup))
 		__stop___mmu_ftr_fixup = .;
 	}
 	. = ALIGN(8);
 	__lwsync_fixup : AT(ADDR(__lwsync_fixup) - LOAD_OFFSET) {
 		__start___lwsync_fixup = .;
-		*(__lwsync_fixup)
+		KEEP(*(__lwsync_fixup))
 		__stop___lwsync_fixup = .;
 	}
 #ifdef CONFIG_PPC64
 	. = ALIGN(8);
 	__fw_ftr_fixup : AT(ADDR(__fw_ftr_fixup) - LOAD_OFFSET) {
 		__start___fw_ftr_fixup = .;
-		*(__fw_ftr_fixup)
+		KEEP(*(__fw_ftr_fixup))
 		__stop___fw_ftr_fixup = .;
 	}
 #endif
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ SECTIONS
 	. = ALIGN(8);
 	.machine.desc : AT(ADDR(.machine.desc) - LOAD_OFFSET) {
 		__machine_desc_start = . ;
-		*(.machine.desc)
+		KEEP(*(.machine.desc))
 		__machine_desc_end = . ;
 	}
 #ifdef CONFIG_RELOCATABLE
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ SECTIONS
 	.data : AT(ADDR(.data) - LOAD_OFFSET) {
 		DATA_DATA
 		*(.data.rel*)
-		*(.sdata)
+		*(SDATA_MAIN)
 		*(.sdata2)
 		*(.got.plt) *(.got)
 		*(.plt)
@@ -303,7 +303,7 @@ SECTIONS
 
 	.opd : AT(ADDR(.opd) - LOAD_OFFSET) {
 		__start_opd = .;
-		*(.opd)
+		KEEP(*(.opd))
 		__end_opd = .;
 	}
 
diff --git a/arch/s390/Makefile b/arch/s390/Makefile
index c79936d02f7b..68a690442be0 100644
--- a/arch/s390/Makefile
+++ b/arch/s390/Makefile
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ KBUILD_CFLAGS	+= -m64
 KBUILD_AFLAGS	+= -m64
 UTS_MACHINE	:= s390x
 STACK_SIZE	:= 16384
-CHECKFLAGS	+= -D__s390__ -D__s390x__ -mbig-endian
+CHECKFLAGS	+= -D__s390__ -D__s390x__
 
 export LD_BFD
 
diff --git a/arch/sparc/Makefile b/arch/sparc/Makefile
index edac927e4952..966a13d2b127 100644
--- a/arch/sparc/Makefile
+++ b/arch/sparc/Makefile
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ else
 # sparc64
 #
 
-CHECKFLAGS    += -D__sparc__ -D__sparc_v9__ -D__arch64__ -m64
+CHECKFLAGS    += -D__sparc__ -D__sparc_v9__ -D__arch64__
 LDFLAGS       := -m elf64_sparc
 export BITS   := 64
 UTS_MACHINE   := sparc64
diff --git a/arch/x86/Makefile b/arch/x86/Makefile
index 60135cbd905c..f0a6ea22429d 100644
--- a/arch/x86/Makefile
+++ b/arch/x86/Makefile
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ ifeq ($(CONFIG_X86_32),y)
 else
         BITS := 64
         UTS_MACHINE := x86_64
-        CHECKFLAGS += -D__x86_64__ -m64
+        CHECKFLAGS += -D__x86_64__
 
         biarch := -m64
         KBUILD_AFLAGS += -m64
diff --git a/include/asm-generic/export.h b/include/asm-generic/export.h
index 719db1968d81..68efb950a918 100644
--- a/include/asm-generic/export.h
+++ b/include/asm-generic/export.h
@@ -19,42 +19,32 @@
 #define KCRC_ALIGN 4
 #endif
 
-#ifdef CONFIG_HAVE_UNDERSCORE_SYMBOL_PREFIX
-#define KSYM(name) _##name
-#else
-#define KSYM(name) name
-#endif
-
 /*
  * note on .section use: @progbits vs %progbits nastiness doesn't matter,
  * since we immediately emit into those sections anyway.
  */
 .macro ___EXPORT_SYMBOL name,val,sec
 #ifdef CONFIG_MODULES
-	.globl KSYM(__ksymtab_\name)
+	.globl __ksymtab_\name
 	.section ___ksymtab\sec+\name,"a"
 	.balign KSYM_ALIGN
-KSYM(__ksymtab_\name):
-	__put \val, KSYM(__kstrtab_\name)
+__ksymtab_\name:
+	__put \val, __kstrtab_\name
 	.previous
 	.section __ksymtab_strings,"a"
-KSYM(__kstrtab_\name):
-#ifdef CONFIG_HAVE_UNDERSCORE_SYMBOL_PREFIX
-	.asciz "_\name"
-#else
+__kstrtab_\name:
 	.asciz "\name"
-#endif
 	.previous
 #ifdef CONFIG_MODVERSIONS
 	.section ___kcrctab\sec+\name,"a"
 	.balign KCRC_ALIGN
-KSYM(__kcrctab_\name):
+__kcrctab_\name:
 #if defined(CONFIG_MODULE_REL_CRCS)
-	.long KSYM(__crc_\name) - .
+	.long __crc_\name - .
 #else
-	.long KSYM(__crc_\name)
+	.long __crc_\name
 #endif
-	.weak KSYM(__crc_\name)
+	.weak __crc_\name
 	.previous
 #endif
 #endif
@@ -84,12 +74,12 @@ KSYM(__kcrctab_\name):
 #endif
 
 #define EXPORT_SYMBOL(name)					\
-	__EXPORT_SYMBOL(name, KSYM_FUNC(KSYM(name)),)
+	__EXPORT_SYMBOL(name, KSYM_FUNC(name),)
 #define EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(name) 				\
-	__EXPORT_SYMBOL(name, KSYM_FUNC(KSYM(name)), _gpl)
+	__EXPORT_SYMBOL(name, KSYM_FUNC(name), _gpl)
 #define EXPORT_DATA_SYMBOL(name)				\
-	__EXPORT_SYMBOL(name, KSYM(name),)
+	__EXPORT_SYMBOL(name, name,)
 #define EXPORT_DATA_SYMBOL_GPL(name)				\
-	__EXPORT_SYMBOL(name, KSYM(name),_gpl)
+	__EXPORT_SYMBOL(name, name,_gpl)
 
 #endif
diff --git a/include/asm-generic/vmlinux.lds.h b/include/asm-generic/vmlinux.lds.h
index af240573e482..e373e2e10f6a 100644
--- a/include/asm-generic/vmlinux.lds.h
+++ b/include/asm-generic/vmlinux.lds.h
@@ -64,15 +64,24 @@
  * generates .data.identifier sections, which need to be pulled in with
  * .data. We don't want to pull in .data..other sections, which Linux
  * has defined. Same for text and bss.
+ *
+ * RODATA_MAIN is not used because existing code already defines .rodata.x
+ * sections to be brought in with rodata.
  */
 #ifdef CONFIG_LD_DEAD_CODE_DATA_ELIMINATION
 #define TEXT_MAIN .text .text.[0-9a-zA-Z_]*
 #define DATA_MAIN .data .data.[0-9a-zA-Z_]*
+#define SDATA_MAIN .sdata .sdata.[0-9a-zA-Z_]*
+#define RODATA_MAIN .rodata .rodata.[0-9a-zA-Z_]*
 #define BSS_MAIN .bss .bss.[0-9a-zA-Z_]*
+#define SBSS_MAIN .sbss .sbss.[0-9a-zA-Z_]*
 #else
 #define TEXT_MAIN .text
 #define DATA_MAIN .data
+#define SDATA_MAIN .sdata
+#define RODATA_MAIN .rodata
 #define BSS_MAIN .bss
+#define SBSS_MAIN .sbss
 #endif
 
 /*
@@ -104,66 +113,66 @@
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_FTRACE_MCOUNT_RECORD
 #define MCOUNT_REC()	. = ALIGN(8);				\
-			VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__start_mcount_loc) = .; \
-			*(__mcount_loc)				\
-			VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__stop_mcount_loc) = .;
+			__start_mcount_loc = .;			\
+			KEEP(*(__mcount_loc))			\
+			__stop_mcount_loc = .;
 #else
 #define MCOUNT_REC()
 #endif
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_TRACE_BRANCH_PROFILING
-#define LIKELY_PROFILE()	VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__start_annotated_branch_profile) = .; \
-				*(_ftrace_annotated_branch)			      \
-				VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__stop_annotated_branch_profile) = .;
+#define LIKELY_PROFILE()	__start_annotated_branch_profile = .;	\
+				KEEP(*(_ftrace_annotated_branch))	\
+				__stop_annotated_branch_profile = .;
 #else
 #define LIKELY_PROFILE()
 #endif
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_PROFILE_ALL_BRANCHES
-#define BRANCH_PROFILE()	VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__start_branch_profile) = .;   \
-				*(_ftrace_branch)			      \
-				VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__stop_branch_profile) = .;
+#define BRANCH_PROFILE()	__start_branch_profile = .;		\
+				KEEP(*(_ftrace_branch))			\
+				__stop_branch_profile = .;
 #else
 #define BRANCH_PROFILE()
 #endif
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_KPROBES
 #define KPROBE_BLACKLIST()	. = ALIGN(8);				      \
-				VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__start_kprobe_blacklist) = .; \
+				__start_kprobe_blacklist = .;		      \
 				KEEP(*(_kprobe_blacklist))		      \
-				VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__stop_kprobe_blacklist) = .;
+				__stop_kprobe_blacklist = .;
 #else
 #define KPROBE_BLACKLIST()
 #endif
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_FUNCTION_ERROR_INJECTION
 #define ERROR_INJECT_WHITELIST()	STRUCT_ALIGN();			      \
-			VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__start_error_injection_whitelist) = .;\
+			__start_error_injection_whitelist = .;		      \
 			KEEP(*(_error_injection_whitelist))		      \
-			VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__stop_error_injection_whitelist) = .;
+			__stop_error_injection_whitelist = .;
 #else
 #define ERROR_INJECT_WHITELIST()
 #endif
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_EVENT_TRACING
 #define FTRACE_EVENTS()	. = ALIGN(8);					\
-			VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__start_ftrace_events) = .;	\
+			__start_ftrace_events = .;			\
 			KEEP(*(_ftrace_events))				\
-			VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__stop_ftrace_events) = .;	\
-			VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__start_ftrace_eval_maps) = .;	\
+			__stop_ftrace_events = .;			\
+			__start_ftrace_eval_maps = .;			\
 			KEEP(*(_ftrace_eval_map))			\
-			VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__stop_ftrace_eval_maps) = .;
+			__stop_ftrace_eval_maps = .;
 #else
 #define FTRACE_EVENTS()
 #endif
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_TRACING
-#define TRACE_PRINTKS() VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__start___trace_bprintk_fmt) = .;      \
+#define TRACE_PRINTKS()	 __start___trace_bprintk_fmt = .;      \
 			 KEEP(*(__trace_printk_fmt)) /* Trace_printk fmt' pointer */ \
-			 VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__stop___trace_bprintk_fmt) = .;
-#define TRACEPOINT_STR() VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__start___tracepoint_str) = .;	\
+			 __stop___trace_bprintk_fmt = .;
+#define TRACEPOINT_STR() __start___tracepoint_str = .;	\
 			 KEEP(*(__tracepoint_str)) /* Trace_printk fmt' pointer */ \
-			 VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__stop___tracepoint_str) = .;
+			 __stop___tracepoint_str = .;
 #else
 #define TRACE_PRINTKS()
 #define TRACEPOINT_STR()
@@ -171,27 +180,27 @@
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_FTRACE_SYSCALLS
 #define TRACE_SYSCALLS() . = ALIGN(8);					\
-			 VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__start_syscalls_metadata) = .;	\
+			 __start_syscalls_metadata = .;			\
 			 KEEP(*(__syscalls_metadata))			\
-			 VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__stop_syscalls_metadata) = .;
+			 __stop_syscalls_metadata = .;
 #else
 #define TRACE_SYSCALLS()
 #endif
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_BPF_EVENTS
 #define BPF_RAW_TP() STRUCT_ALIGN();					\
-			 VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__start__bpf_raw_tp) = .;	\
+			 __start__bpf_raw_tp = .;			\
 			 KEEP(*(__bpf_raw_tp_map))			\
-			 VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__stop__bpf_raw_tp) = .;
+			 __stop__bpf_raw_tp = .;
 #else
 #define BPF_RAW_TP()
 #endif
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_EARLYCON
 #define EARLYCON_TABLE() . = ALIGN(8);				\
-			 VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__earlycon_table) = .;	\
+			 __earlycon_table = .;			\
 			 KEEP(*(__earlycon_table))		\
-			 VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__earlycon_table_end) = .;
+			 __earlycon_table_end = .;
 #else
 #define EARLYCON_TABLE()
 #endif
@@ -202,7 +211,7 @@
 #define _OF_TABLE_0(name)
 #define _OF_TABLE_1(name)						\
 	. = ALIGN(8);							\
-	VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__##name##_of_table) = .;			\
+	__##name##_of_table = .;					\
 	KEEP(*(__##name##_of_table))					\
 	KEEP(*(__##name##_of_table_end))
 
@@ -217,18 +226,18 @@
 #ifdef CONFIG_ACPI
 #define ACPI_PROBE_TABLE(name)						\
 	. = ALIGN(8);							\
-	VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__##name##_acpi_probe_table) = .;		\
+	__##name##_acpi_probe_table = .;				\
 	KEEP(*(__##name##_acpi_probe_table))				\
-	VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__##name##_acpi_probe_table_end) = .;
+	__##name##_acpi_probe_table_end = .;
 #else
 #define ACPI_PROBE_TABLE(name)
 #endif
 
 #define KERNEL_DTB()							\
 	STRUCT_ALIGN();							\
-	VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__dtb_start) = .;				\
+	__dtb_start = .;						\
 	KEEP(*(.dtb.init.rodata))					\
-	VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__dtb_end) = .;
+	__dtb_end = .;
 
 /*
  * .data section
@@ -238,23 +247,23 @@
 	*(DATA_MAIN)							\
 	*(.ref.data)							\
 	*(.data..shared_aligned) /* percpu related */			\
-	MEM_KEEP(init.data)						\
-	MEM_KEEP(exit.data)						\
+	MEM_KEEP(init.data*)						\
+	MEM_KEEP(exit.data*)						\
 	*(.data.unlikely)						\
-	VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__start_once) = .;				\
+	__start_once = .;						\
 	*(.data.once)							\
-	VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__end_once) = .;					\
+	__end_once = .;							\
 	STRUCT_ALIGN();							\
 	*(__tracepoints)						\
 	/* implement dynamic printk debug */				\
 	. = ALIGN(8);                                                   \
-	VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__start___jump_table) = .;                       \
+	__start___jump_table = .;					\
 	KEEP(*(__jump_table))                                           \
-	VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__stop___jump_table) = .;                        \
+	__stop___jump_table = .;					\
 	. = ALIGN(8);							\
-	VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__start___verbose) = .;                          \
+	__start___verbose = .;						\
 	KEEP(*(__verbose))                                              \
-	VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__stop___verbose) = .;				\
+	__stop___verbose = .;						\
 	LIKELY_PROFILE()		       				\
 	BRANCH_PROFILE()						\
 	TRACE_PRINTKS()							\
@@ -266,10 +275,10 @@
  */
 #define NOSAVE_DATA							\
 	. = ALIGN(PAGE_SIZE);						\
-	VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__nosave_begin) = .;				\
+	__nosave_begin = .;						\
 	*(.data..nosave)						\
 	. = ALIGN(PAGE_SIZE);						\
-	VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__nosave_end) = .;
+	__nosave_end = .;
 
 #define PAGE_ALIGNED_DATA(page_align)					\
 	. = ALIGN(page_align);						\
@@ -286,13 +295,13 @@
 
 #define INIT_TASK_DATA(align)						\
 	. = ALIGN(align);						\
-	VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__start_init_task) = .;				\
-	VMLINUX_SYMBOL(init_thread_union) = .;				\
-	VMLINUX_SYMBOL(init_stack) = .;					\
-	*(.data..init_task)						\
-	*(.data..init_thread_info)					\
-	. = VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__start_init_task) + THREAD_SIZE;		\
-	VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__end_init_task) = .;
+	__start_init_task = .;						\
+	init_thread_union = .;						\
+	init_stack = .;							\
+	KEEP(*(.data..init_task))					\
+	KEEP(*(.data..init_thread_info))				\
+	. = __start_init_task + THREAD_SIZE;				\
+	__end_init_task = .;
 
 /*
  * Allow architectures to handle ro_after_init data on their
@@ -300,9 +309,9 @@
  */
 #ifndef RO_AFTER_INIT_DATA
 #define RO_AFTER_INIT_DATA						\
-	VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__start_ro_after_init) = .;			\
+	__start_ro_after_init = .;					\
 	*(.data..ro_after_init)						\
-	VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__end_ro_after_init) = .;
+	__end_ro_after_init = .;
 #endif
 
 /*
@@ -311,14 +320,14 @@
 #define RO_DATA_SECTION(align)						\
 	. = ALIGN((align));						\
 	.rodata           : AT(ADDR(.rodata) - LOAD_OFFSET) {		\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__start_rodata) = .;			\
+		__start_rodata = .;					\
 		*(.rodata) *(.rodata.*)					\
 		RO_AFTER_INIT_DATA	/* Read only after init */	\
 		KEEP(*(__vermagic))	/* Kernel version magic */	\
 		. = ALIGN(8);						\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__start___tracepoints_ptrs) = .;		\
+		__start___tracepoints_ptrs = .;				\
 		KEEP(*(__tracepoints_ptrs)) /* Tracepoints: pointer array */ \
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__stop___tracepoints_ptrs) = .;		\
+		__stop___tracepoints_ptrs = .;				\
 		*(__tracepoints_strings)/* Tracepoints: strings */	\
 	}								\
 									\
@@ -328,109 +337,109 @@
 									\
 	/* PCI quirks */						\
 	.pci_fixup        : AT(ADDR(.pci_fixup) - LOAD_OFFSET) {	\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__start_pci_fixups_early) = .;		\
+		__start_pci_fixups_early = .;				\
 		KEEP(*(.pci_fixup_early))				\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__end_pci_fixups_early) = .;		\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__start_pci_fixups_header) = .;		\
+		__end_pci_fixups_early = .;				\
+		__start_pci_fixups_header = .;				\
 		KEEP(*(.pci_fixup_header))				\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__end_pci_fixups_header) = .;		\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__start_pci_fixups_final) = .;		\
+		__end_pci_fixups_header = .;				\
+		__start_pci_fixups_final = .;				\
 		KEEP(*(.pci_fixup_final))				\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__end_pci_fixups_final) = .;		\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__start_pci_fixups_enable) = .;		\
+		__end_pci_fixups_final = .;				\
+		__start_pci_fixups_enable = .;				\
 		KEEP(*(.pci_fixup_enable))				\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__end_pci_fixups_enable) = .;		\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__start_pci_fixups_resume) = .;		\
+		__end_pci_fixups_enable = .;				\
+		__start_pci_fixups_resume = .;				\
 		KEEP(*(.pci_fixup_resume))				\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__end_pci_fixups_resume) = .;		\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__start_pci_fixups_resume_early) = .;	\
+		__end_pci_fixups_resume = .;				\
+		__start_pci_fixups_resume_early = .;			\
 		KEEP(*(.pci_fixup_resume_early))			\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__end_pci_fixups_resume_early) = .;	\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__start_pci_fixups_suspend) = .;		\
+		__end_pci_fixups_resume_early = .;			\
+		__start_pci_fixups_suspend = .;				\
 		KEEP(*(.pci_fixup_suspend))				\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__end_pci_fixups_suspend) = .;		\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__start_pci_fixups_suspend_late) = .;	\
+		__end_pci_fixups_suspend = .;				\
+		__start_pci_fixups_suspend_late = .;			\
 		KEEP(*(.pci_fixup_suspend_late))			\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__end_pci_fixups_suspend_late) = .;	\
+		__end_pci_fixups_suspend_late = .;			\
 	}								\
 									\
 	/* Built-in firmware blobs */					\
 	.builtin_fw        : AT(ADDR(.builtin_fw) - LOAD_OFFSET) {	\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__start_builtin_fw) = .;			\
+		__start_builtin_fw = .;					\
 		KEEP(*(.builtin_fw))					\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__end_builtin_fw) = .;			\
+		__end_builtin_fw = .;					\
 	}								\
 									\
 	TRACEDATA							\
 									\
 	/* Kernel symbol table: Normal symbols */			\
 	__ksymtab         : AT(ADDR(__ksymtab) - LOAD_OFFSET) {		\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__start___ksymtab) = .;			\
+		__start___ksymtab = .;					\
 		KEEP(*(SORT(___ksymtab+*)))				\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__stop___ksymtab) = .;			\
+		__stop___ksymtab = .;					\
 	}								\
 									\
 	/* Kernel symbol table: GPL-only symbols */			\
 	__ksymtab_gpl     : AT(ADDR(__ksymtab_gpl) - LOAD_OFFSET) {	\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__start___ksymtab_gpl) = .;		\
+		__start___ksymtab_gpl = .;				\
 		KEEP(*(SORT(___ksymtab_gpl+*)))				\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__stop___ksymtab_gpl) = .;		\
+		__stop___ksymtab_gpl = .;				\
 	}								\
 									\
 	/* Kernel symbol table: Normal unused symbols */		\
 	__ksymtab_unused  : AT(ADDR(__ksymtab_unused) - LOAD_OFFSET) {	\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__start___ksymtab_unused) = .;		\
+		__start___ksymtab_unused = .;				\
 		KEEP(*(SORT(___ksymtab_unused+*)))			\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__stop___ksymtab_unused) = .;		\
+		__stop___ksymtab_unused = .;				\
 	}								\
 									\
 	/* Kernel symbol table: GPL-only unused symbols */		\
 	__ksymtab_unused_gpl : AT(ADDR(__ksymtab_unused_gpl) - LOAD_OFFSET) { \
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__start___ksymtab_unused_gpl) = .;	\
+		__start___ksymtab_unused_gpl = .;			\
 		KEEP(*(SORT(___ksymtab_unused_gpl+*)))			\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__stop___ksymtab_unused_gpl) = .;	\
+		__stop___ksymtab_unused_gpl = .;			\
 	}								\
 									\
 	/* Kernel symbol table: GPL-future-only symbols */		\
 	__ksymtab_gpl_future : AT(ADDR(__ksymtab_gpl_future) - LOAD_OFFSET) { \
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__start___ksymtab_gpl_future) = .;	\
+		__start___ksymtab_gpl_future = .;			\
 		KEEP(*(SORT(___ksymtab_gpl_future+*)))			\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__stop___ksymtab_gpl_future) = .;	\
+		__stop___ksymtab_gpl_future = .;			\
 	}								\
 									\
 	/* Kernel symbol table: Normal symbols */			\
 	__kcrctab         : AT(ADDR(__kcrctab) - LOAD_OFFSET) {		\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__start___kcrctab) = .;			\
+		__start___kcrctab = .;					\
 		KEEP(*(SORT(___kcrctab+*)))				\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__stop___kcrctab) = .;			\
+		__stop___kcrctab = .;					\
 	}								\
 									\
 	/* Kernel symbol table: GPL-only symbols */			\
 	__kcrctab_gpl     : AT(ADDR(__kcrctab_gpl) - LOAD_OFFSET) {	\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__start___kcrctab_gpl) = .;		\
+		__start___kcrctab_gpl = .;				\
 		KEEP(*(SORT(___kcrctab_gpl+*)))				\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__stop___kcrctab_gpl) = .;		\
+		__stop___kcrctab_gpl = .;				\
 	}								\
 									\
 	/* Kernel symbol table: Normal unused symbols */		\
 	__kcrctab_unused  : AT(ADDR(__kcrctab_unused) - LOAD_OFFSET) {	\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__start___kcrctab_unused) = .;		\
+		__start___kcrctab_unused = .;				\
 		KEEP(*(SORT(___kcrctab_unused+*)))			\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__stop___kcrctab_unused) = .;		\
+		__stop___kcrctab_unused = .;				\
 	}								\
 									\
 	/* Kernel symbol table: GPL-only unused symbols */		\
 	__kcrctab_unused_gpl : AT(ADDR(__kcrctab_unused_gpl) - LOAD_OFFSET) { \
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__start___kcrctab_unused_gpl) = .;	\
+		__start___kcrctab_unused_gpl = .;			\
 		KEEP(*(SORT(___kcrctab_unused_gpl+*)))			\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__stop___kcrctab_unused_gpl) = .;	\
+		__stop___kcrctab_unused_gpl = .;			\
 	}								\
 									\
 	/* Kernel symbol table: GPL-future-only symbols */		\
 	__kcrctab_gpl_future : AT(ADDR(__kcrctab_gpl_future) - LOAD_OFFSET) { \
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__start___kcrctab_gpl_future) = .;	\
+		__start___kcrctab_gpl_future = .;			\
 		KEEP(*(SORT(___kcrctab_gpl_future+*)))			\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__stop___kcrctab_gpl_future) = .;	\
+		__stop___kcrctab_gpl_future = .;			\
 	}								\
 									\
 	/* Kernel symbol table: strings */				\
@@ -447,18 +456,18 @@
 									\
 	/* Built-in module parameters. */				\
 	__param : AT(ADDR(__param) - LOAD_OFFSET) {			\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__start___param) = .;			\
+		__start___param = .;					\
 		KEEP(*(__param))					\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__stop___param) = .;			\
+		__stop___param = .;					\
 	}								\
 									\
 	/* Built-in module versions. */					\
 	__modver : AT(ADDR(__modver) - LOAD_OFFSET) {			\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__start___modver) = .;			\
+		__start___modver = .;					\
 		KEEP(*(__modver))					\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__stop___modver) = .;			\
+		__stop___modver = .;					\
 		. = ALIGN((align));					\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__end_rodata) = .;			\
+		__end_rodata = .;					\
 	}								\
 	. = ALIGN((align));
 
@@ -469,9 +478,9 @@
 
 #define SECURITY_INIT							\
 	.security_initcall.init : AT(ADDR(.security_initcall.init) - LOAD_OFFSET) { \
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__security_initcall_start) = .;		\
+		__security_initcall_start = .;				\
 		KEEP(*(.security_initcall.init))			\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__security_initcall_end) = .;		\
+		__security_initcall_end = .;				\
 	}
 
 /*
@@ -487,58 +496,58 @@
 		*(.text.hot TEXT_MAIN .text.fixup .text.unlikely)	\
 		*(.text..refcount)					\
 		*(.ref.text)						\
-	MEM_KEEP(init.text)						\
-	MEM_KEEP(exit.text)						\
+	MEM_KEEP(init.text*)						\
+	MEM_KEEP(exit.text*)						\
 
 
 /* sched.text is aling to function alignment to secure we have same
  * address even at second ld pass when generating System.map */
 #define SCHED_TEXT							\
 		ALIGN_FUNCTION();					\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__sched_text_start) = .;			\
+		__sched_text_start = .;					\
 		*(.sched.text)						\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__sched_text_end) = .;
+		__sched_text_end = .;
 
 /* spinlock.text is aling to function alignment to secure we have same
  * address even at second ld pass when generating System.map */
 #define LOCK_TEXT							\
 		ALIGN_FUNCTION();					\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__lock_text_start) = .;			\
+		__lock_text_start = .;					\
 		*(.spinlock.text)					\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__lock_text_end) = .;
+		__lock_text_end = .;
 
 #define CPUIDLE_TEXT							\
 		ALIGN_FUNCTION();					\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__cpuidle_text_start) = .;		\
+		__cpuidle_text_start = .;				\
 		*(.cpuidle.text)					\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__cpuidle_text_end) = .;
+		__cpuidle_text_end = .;
 
 #define KPROBES_TEXT							\
 		ALIGN_FUNCTION();					\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__kprobes_text_start) = .;		\
+		__kprobes_text_start = .;				\
 		*(.kprobes.text)					\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__kprobes_text_end) = .;
+		__kprobes_text_end = .;
 
 #define ENTRY_TEXT							\
 		ALIGN_FUNCTION();					\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__entry_text_start) = .;			\
+		__entry_text_start = .;					\
 		*(.entry.text)						\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__entry_text_end) = .;
+		__entry_text_end = .;
 
 #define IRQENTRY_TEXT							\
 		ALIGN_FUNCTION();					\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__irqentry_text_start) = .;		\
+		__irqentry_text_start = .;				\
 		*(.irqentry.text)					\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__irqentry_text_end) = .;
+		__irqentry_text_end = .;
 
 #define SOFTIRQENTRY_TEXT						\
 		ALIGN_FUNCTION();					\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__softirqentry_text_start) = .;		\
+		__softirqentry_text_start = .;				\
 		*(.softirqentry.text)					\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__softirqentry_text_end) = .;
+		__softirqentry_text_end = .;
 
 /* Section used for early init (in .S files) */
-#define HEAD_TEXT  *(.head.text)
+#define HEAD_TEXT  KEEP(*(.head.text))
 
 #define HEAD_TEXT_SECTION							\
 	.head.text : AT(ADDR(.head.text) - LOAD_OFFSET) {		\
@@ -551,9 +560,9 @@
 #define EXCEPTION_TABLE(align)						\
 	. = ALIGN(align);						\
 	__ex_table : AT(ADDR(__ex_table) - LOAD_OFFSET) {		\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__start___ex_table) = .;			\
+		__start___ex_table = .;					\
 		KEEP(*(__ex_table))					\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__stop___ex_table) = .;			\
+		__stop___ex_table = .;					\
 	}
 
 /*
@@ -567,11 +576,11 @@
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_CONSTRUCTORS
 #define KERNEL_CTORS()	. = ALIGN(8);			   \
-			VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__ctors_start) = .; \
+			__ctors_start = .;		   \
 			KEEP(*(.ctors))			   \
 			KEEP(*(SORT(.init_array.*)))	   \
 			KEEP(*(.init_array))		   \
-			VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__ctors_end) = .;
+			__ctors_end = .;
 #else
 #define KERNEL_CTORS()
 #endif
@@ -579,11 +588,11 @@
 /* init and exit section handling */
 #define INIT_DATA							\
 	KEEP(*(SORT(___kentry+*)))					\
-	*(.init.data)							\
-	MEM_DISCARD(init.data)						\
+	*(.init.data init.data.*)					\
+	MEM_DISCARD(init.data*)						\
 	KERNEL_CTORS()							\
 	MCOUNT_REC()							\
-	*(.init.rodata)							\
+	*(.init.rodata .init.rodata.*)					\
 	FTRACE_EVENTS()							\
 	TRACE_SYSCALLS()						\
 	KPROBE_BLACKLIST()						\
@@ -602,16 +611,16 @@
 	EARLYCON_TABLE()
 
 #define INIT_TEXT							\
-	*(.init.text)							\
+	*(.init.text .init.text.*)					\
 	*(.text.startup)						\
-	MEM_DISCARD(init.text)
+	MEM_DISCARD(init.text*)
 
 #define EXIT_DATA							\
-	*(.exit.data)							\
+	*(.exit.data .exit.data.*)					\
 	*(.fini_array)							\
 	*(.dtors)							\
-	MEM_DISCARD(exit.data)						\
-	MEM_DISCARD(exit.rodata)
+	MEM_DISCARD(exit.data*)						\
+	MEM_DISCARD(exit.rodata*)
 
 #define EXIT_TEXT							\
 	*(.exit.text)							\
@@ -629,7 +638,7 @@
 	. = ALIGN(sbss_align);						\
 	.sbss : AT(ADDR(.sbss) - LOAD_OFFSET) {				\
 		*(.dynsbss)						\
-		*(.sbss)						\
+		*(SBSS_MAIN)						\
 		*(.scommon)						\
 	}
 
@@ -706,9 +715,9 @@
 #define BUG_TABLE							\
 	. = ALIGN(8);							\
 	__bug_table : AT(ADDR(__bug_table) - LOAD_OFFSET) {		\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__start___bug_table) = .;		\
+		__start___bug_table = .;				\
 		KEEP(*(__bug_table))					\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__stop___bug_table) = .;			\
+		__stop___bug_table = .;					\
 	}
 #else
 #define BUG_TABLE
@@ -718,22 +727,22 @@
 #define ORC_UNWIND_TABLE						\
 	. = ALIGN(4);							\
 	.orc_unwind_ip : AT(ADDR(.orc_unwind_ip) - LOAD_OFFSET) {	\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__start_orc_unwind_ip) = .;		\
+		__start_orc_unwind_ip = .;				\
 		KEEP(*(.orc_unwind_ip))					\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__stop_orc_unwind_ip) = .;		\
+		__stop_orc_unwind_ip = .;				\
 	}								\
 	. = ALIGN(6);							\
 	.orc_unwind : AT(ADDR(.orc_unwind) - LOAD_OFFSET) {		\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__start_orc_unwind) = .;			\
+		__start_orc_unwind = .;					\
 		KEEP(*(.orc_unwind))					\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__stop_orc_unwind) = .;			\
+		__stop_orc_unwind = .;					\
 	}								\
 	. = ALIGN(4);							\
 	.orc_lookup : AT(ADDR(.orc_lookup) - LOAD_OFFSET) {		\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(orc_lookup) = .;				\
+		orc_lookup = .;						\
 		. += (((SIZEOF(.text) + LOOKUP_BLOCK_SIZE - 1) /	\
 			LOOKUP_BLOCK_SIZE) + 1) * 4;			\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(orc_lookup_end) = .;			\
+		orc_lookup_end = .;					\
 	}
 #else
 #define ORC_UNWIND_TABLE
@@ -743,9 +752,9 @@
 #define TRACEDATA							\
 	. = ALIGN(4);							\
 	.tracedata : AT(ADDR(.tracedata) - LOAD_OFFSET) {		\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__tracedata_start) = .;			\
+		__tracedata_start = .;					\
 		KEEP(*(.tracedata))					\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__tracedata_end) = .;			\
+		__tracedata_end = .;					\
 	}
 #else
 #define TRACEDATA
@@ -753,24 +762,24 @@
 
 #define NOTES								\
 	.notes : AT(ADDR(.notes) - LOAD_OFFSET) {			\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__start_notes) = .;			\
-		*(.note.*)						\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__stop_notes) = .;			\
+		__start_notes = .;					\
+		KEEP(*(.note.*))					\
+		__stop_notes = .;					\
 	}
 
 #define INIT_SETUP(initsetup_align)					\
 		. = ALIGN(initsetup_align);				\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__setup_start) = .;			\
+		__setup_start = .;					\
 		KEEP(*(.init.setup))					\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__setup_end) = .;
+		__setup_end = .;
 
 #define INIT_CALLS_LEVEL(level)						\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__initcall##level##_start) = .;		\
+		__initcall##level##_start = .;				\
 		KEEP(*(.initcall##level##.init))			\
 		KEEP(*(.initcall##level##s.init))			\
 
 #define INIT_CALLS							\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__initcall_start) = .;			\
+		__initcall_start = .;					\
 		KEEP(*(.initcallearly.init))				\
 		INIT_CALLS_LEVEL(0)					\
 		INIT_CALLS_LEVEL(1)					\
@@ -781,22 +790,22 @@
 		INIT_CALLS_LEVEL(rootfs)				\
 		INIT_CALLS_LEVEL(6)					\
 		INIT_CALLS_LEVEL(7)					\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__initcall_end) = .;
+		__initcall_end = .;
 
 #define CON_INITCALL							\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__con_initcall_start) = .;		\
+		__con_initcall_start = .;				\
 		KEEP(*(.con_initcall.init))				\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__con_initcall_end) = .;
+		__con_initcall_end = .;
 
 #define SECURITY_INITCALL						\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__security_initcall_start) = .;		\
+		__security_initcall_start = .;				\
 		KEEP(*(.security_initcall.init))			\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__security_initcall_end) = .;
+		__security_initcall_end = .;
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_BLK_DEV_INITRD
 #define INIT_RAM_FS							\
 	. = ALIGN(4);							\
-	VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__initramfs_start) = .;				\
+	__initramfs_start = .;						\
 	KEEP(*(.init.ramfs))						\
 	. = ALIGN(8);							\
 	KEEP(*(.init.ramfs.info))
@@ -851,7 +860,7 @@
  * sharing between subsections for different purposes.
  */
 #define PERCPU_INPUT(cacheline)						\
-	VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__per_cpu_start) = .;				\
+	__per_cpu_start = .;						\
 	*(.data..percpu..first)						\
 	. = ALIGN(PAGE_SIZE);						\
 	*(.data..percpu..page_aligned)					\
@@ -861,7 +870,7 @@
 	*(.data..percpu)						\
 	*(.data..percpu..shared_aligned)				\
 	PERCPU_DECRYPTED_SECTION					\
-	VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__per_cpu_end) = .;
+	__per_cpu_end = .;
 
 /**
  * PERCPU_VADDR - define output section for percpu area
@@ -888,12 +897,11 @@
  * address, use PERCPU_SECTION.
  */
 #define PERCPU_VADDR(cacheline, vaddr, phdr)				\
-	VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__per_cpu_load) = .;				\
-	.data..percpu vaddr : AT(VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__per_cpu_load)		\
-				- LOAD_OFFSET) {			\
+	__per_cpu_load = .;						\
+	.data..percpu vaddr : AT(__per_cpu_load - LOAD_OFFSET) {	\
 		PERCPU_INPUT(cacheline)					\
 	} phdr								\
-	. = VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__per_cpu_load) + SIZEOF(.data..percpu);
+	. = __per_cpu_load + SIZEOF(.data..percpu);
 
 /**
  * PERCPU_SECTION - define output section for percpu area, simple version
@@ -910,7 +918,7 @@
 #define PERCPU_SECTION(cacheline)					\
 	. = ALIGN(PAGE_SIZE);						\
 	.data..percpu	: AT(ADDR(.data..percpu) - LOAD_OFFSET) {	\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__per_cpu_load) = .;			\
+		__per_cpu_load = .;					\
 		PERCPU_INPUT(cacheline)					\
 	}
 
@@ -949,9 +957,9 @@
 #define INIT_TEXT_SECTION(inittext_align)				\
 	. = ALIGN(inittext_align);					\
 	.init.text : AT(ADDR(.init.text) - LOAD_OFFSET) {		\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(_sinittext) = .;				\
+		_sinittext = .;						\
 		INIT_TEXT						\
-		VMLINUX_SYMBOL(_einittext) = .;				\
+		_einittext = .;						\
 	}
 
 #define INIT_DATA_SECTION(initsetup_align)				\
@@ -966,8 +974,8 @@
 
 #define BSS_SECTION(sbss_align, bss_align, stop_align)			\
 	. = ALIGN(sbss_align);						\
-	VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__bss_start) = .;				\
+	__bss_start = .;						\
 	SBSS(sbss_align)						\
 	BSS(bss_align)							\
 	. = ALIGN(stop_align);						\
-	VMLINUX_SYMBOL(__bss_stop) = .;
+	__bss_stop = .;
diff --git a/include/linux/export.h b/include/linux/export.h
index 1a1dfdb2a5c6..b768d6dd3c90 100644
--- a/include/linux/export.h
+++ b/include/linux/export.h
@@ -10,14 +10,8 @@
  * hackers place grumpy comments in header files.
  */
 
-/* Some toolchains use a `_' prefix for all user symbols. */
-#ifdef CONFIG_HAVE_UNDERSCORE_SYMBOL_PREFIX
-#define __VMLINUX_SYMBOL(x) _##x
-#define __VMLINUX_SYMBOL_STR(x) "_" #x
-#else
 #define __VMLINUX_SYMBOL(x) x
 #define __VMLINUX_SYMBOL_STR(x) #x
-#endif
 
 /* Indirect, so macros are expanded before pasting. */
 #define VMLINUX_SYMBOL(x) __VMLINUX_SYMBOL(x)
@@ -46,14 +40,14 @@ extern struct module __this_module;
 #if defined(CONFIG_MODULE_REL_CRCS)
 #define __CRC_SYMBOL(sym, sec)						\
 	asm("	.section \"___kcrctab" sec "+" #sym "\", \"a\"	\n"	\
-	    "	.weak	" VMLINUX_SYMBOL_STR(__crc_##sym) "	\n"	\
-	    "	.long	" VMLINUX_SYMBOL_STR(__crc_##sym) " - .	\n"	\
+	    "	.weak	__crc_" #sym "				\n"	\
+	    "	.long	__crc_" #sym " - .			\n"	\
 	    "	.previous					\n");
 #else
 #define __CRC_SYMBOL(sym, sec)						\
 	asm("	.section \"___kcrctab" sec "+" #sym "\", \"a\"	\n"	\
-	    "	.weak	" VMLINUX_SYMBOL_STR(__crc_##sym) "	\n"	\
-	    "	.long	" VMLINUX_SYMBOL_STR(__crc_##sym) "	\n"	\
+	    "	.weak	__crc_" #sym "				\n"	\
+	    "	.long	__crc_" #sym "				\n"	\
 	    "	.previous					\n");
 #endif
 #else
@@ -66,7 +60,7 @@ extern struct module __this_module;
 	__CRC_SYMBOL(sym, sec)						\
 	static const char __kstrtab_##sym[]				\
 	__attribute__((section("__ksymtab_strings"), aligned(1)))	\
-	= VMLINUX_SYMBOL_STR(sym);					\
+	= #sym;								\
 	static const struct kernel_symbol __ksymtab_##sym		\
 	__used								\
 	__attribute__((section("___ksymtab" sec "+" #sym), used))	\
diff --git a/init/Kconfig b/init/Kconfig
index 18b151f0ddc1..829a4c1117f2 100644
--- a/init/Kconfig
+++ b/init/Kconfig
@@ -1038,6 +1038,33 @@ config CC_OPTIMIZE_FOR_SIZE
 
 endchoice
 
+config HAVE_LD_DEAD_CODE_DATA_ELIMINATION
+	bool
+	help
+	  This requires that the arch annotates or otherwise protects
+	  its external entry points from being discarded. Linker scripts
+	  must also merge .text.*, .data.*, and .bss.* correctly into
+	  output sections. Care must be taken not to pull in unrelated
+	  sections (e.g., '.text.init'). Typically '.' in section names
+	  is used to distinguish them from label names / C identifiers.
+
+config LD_DEAD_CODE_DATA_ELIMINATION
+	bool "Dead code and data elimination (EXPERIMENTAL)"
+	depends on HAVE_LD_DEAD_CODE_DATA_ELIMINATION
+	depends on EXPERT
+	help
+	  Select this if the architecture wants to do dead code and
+	  data elimination with the linker by compiling with
+	  -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections, and linking with
+	  --gc-sections.
+
+	  This can reduce on disk and in-memory size of the kernel
+	  code and static data, particularly for small configs and
+	  on small systems. This has the possibility of introducing
+	  silently broken kernel if the required annotations are not
+	  present. This option is not well tested yet, so use at your
+	  own risk.
+
 config SYSCTL
 	bool
 
diff --git a/scripts/Makefile.build b/scripts/Makefile.build
index 8bdb1dc4072c..753b9add56f5 100644
--- a/scripts/Makefile.build
+++ b/scripts/Makefile.build
@@ -147,7 +147,6 @@ $(obj)/%.i: $(src)/%.c FORCE
 cmd_gensymtypes_c =                                                         \
     $(CPP) -D__GENKSYMS__ $(c_flags) $< |                                   \
     $(GENKSYMS) $(if $(1), -T $(2))                                         \
-     $(patsubst y,-s _,$(CONFIG_HAVE_UNDERSCORE_SYMBOL_PREFIX))             \
      $(patsubst y,-R,$(CONFIG_MODULE_REL_CRCS))                             \
      $(if $(KBUILD_PRESERVE),-p)                                            \
      -r $(firstword $(wildcard $(2:.symtypes=.symref) /dev/null))
@@ -355,7 +354,6 @@ cmd_gensymtypes_S =                                                         \
      sed 's/.*___EXPORT_SYMBOL[[:space:]]*\([a-zA-Z0-9_]*\)[[:space:]]*,.*/EXPORT_SYMBOL(\1);/' ) | \
     $(CPP) -D__GENKSYMS__ $(c_flags) -xc - |                                \
     $(GENKSYMS) $(if $(1), -T $(2))                                         \
-     $(patsubst y,-s _,$(CONFIG_HAVE_UNDERSCORE_SYMBOL_PREFIX))             \
      $(patsubst y,-R,$(CONFIG_MODULE_REL_CRCS))                             \
      $(if $(KBUILD_PRESERVE),-p)                                            \
      -r $(firstword $(wildcard $(2:.symtypes=.symref) /dev/null))
@@ -487,15 +485,10 @@ targets += $(lib-target)
 
 dummy-object = $(obj)/.lib_exports.o
 ksyms-lds = $(dot-target).lds
-ifdef CONFIG_HAVE_UNDERSCORE_SYMBOL_PREFIX
-ref_prefix = EXTERN(_
-else
-ref_prefix = EXTERN(
-endif
 
 quiet_cmd_export_list = EXPORTS $@
 cmd_export_list = $(OBJDUMP) -h $< | \
-	sed -ne '/___ksymtab/s/.*+\([^ ]*\).*/$(ref_prefix)\1)/p' >$(ksyms-lds);\
+	sed -ne '/___ksymtab/s/.*+\([^ ]*\).*/EXTERN(\1)/p' >$(ksyms-lds);\
 	rm -f $(dummy-object);\
 	echo | $(CC) $(a_flags) -c -o $(dummy-object) -x assembler -;\
 	$(LD) $(ld_flags) -r -o $@ -T $(ksyms-lds) $(dummy-object);\
diff --git a/scripts/adjust_autoksyms.sh b/scripts/adjust_autoksyms.sh
index 016b3c48a4ec..6e6d63957da3 100755
--- a/scripts/adjust_autoksyms.sh
+++ b/scripts/adjust_autoksyms.sh
@@ -61,9 +61,6 @@ for mod in "$MODVERDIR"/*.mod; do
 	sed -n -e '3{s/ /\n/g;/^$/!p;}' "$mod"
 done | sort -u |
 while read sym; do
-	if [ -n "$CONFIG_HAVE_UNDERSCORE_SYMBOL_PREFIX" ]; then
-		sym="${sym#_}"
-	fi
 	echo "#define __KSYM_${sym} 1"
 done >> "$new_ksyms_file"
 
diff --git a/scripts/basic/fixdep.c b/scripts/basic/fixdep.c
index f387538c58bc..850966f3d602 100644
--- a/scripts/basic/fixdep.c
+++ b/scripts/basic/fixdep.c
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ static void usage(void)
  */
 static void print_dep(const char *m, int slen, const char *dir)
 {
-	int c, i;
+	int c, prev_c = '/', i;
 
 	printf("    $(wildcard %s/", dir);
 	for (i = 0; i < slen; i++) {
@@ -124,7 +124,9 @@ static void print_dep(const char *m, int slen, const char *dir)
 			c = '/';
 		else
 			c = tolower(c);
-		putchar(c);
+		if (c != '/' || prev_c != '/')
+			putchar(c);
+		prev_c = c;
 	}
 	printf(".h) \\\n");
 }
diff --git a/scripts/checkpatch.pl b/scripts/checkpatch.pl
index 2d42eb9cd1a5..e6033d3c48d3 100755
--- a/scripts/checkpatch.pl
+++ b/scripts/checkpatch.pl
@@ -5121,16 +5121,6 @@ sub process {
 			}
 		}
 
-# make sure symbols are always wrapped with VMLINUX_SYMBOL() ...
-# all assignments may have only one of the following with an assignment:
-#	.
-#	ALIGN(...)
-#	VMLINUX_SYMBOL(...)
-		if ($realfile eq 'vmlinux.lds.h' && $line =~ /(?:(?:^|\s)$Ident\s*=|=\s*$Ident(?:\s|$))/) {
-			WARN("MISSING_VMLINUX_SYMBOL",
-			     "vmlinux.lds.h needs VMLINUX_SYMBOL() around C-visible symbols\n" . $herecurr);
-		}
-
 # check for redundant bracing round if etc
 		if ($line =~ /(^.*)\bif\b/ && $1 !~ /else\s*$/) {
 			my ($level, $endln, @chunks) =
diff --git a/scripts/coccinelle/locks/mini_lock.cocci b/scripts/coccinelle/locks/mini_lock.cocci
index 47f649b0ea87..19c6ee5b986b 100644
--- a/scripts/coccinelle/locks/mini_lock.cocci
+++ b/scripts/coccinelle/locks/mini_lock.cocci
@@ -67,12 +67,14 @@ identifier lock,unlock;
 @@
 
 *lock(E1@p,...);
-<+... when != E1
+... when != E1
+    when any
 if (...) {
   ... when != E1
 *  return@r ...;
 }
-...+>
+... when != E1
+    when any
 *unlock@up(E1,...);
 
 @script:python depends on org@
diff --git a/scripts/coccinelle/null/deref_null.cocci b/scripts/coccinelle/null/deref_null.cocci
index b16ccb7663a7..cbc6184e69ef 100644
--- a/scripts/coccinelle/null/deref_null.cocci
+++ b/scripts/coccinelle/null/deref_null.cocci
@@ -14,18 +14,10 @@ virtual context
 virtual org
 virtual report
 
-@ifm@
-expression *E;
-statement S1,S2;
-position p1;
-@@
-
-if@p1 ((E == NULL && ...) || ...) S1 else S2
-
 // The following two rules are separate, because both can match a single
 // expression in different ways
 @pr1 expression@
-expression *ifm.E;
+expression E;
 identifier f;
 position p1;
 @@
@@ -33,7 +25,7 @@ position p1;
  (E != NULL && ...) ? <+...E->f@p1...+> : ...
 
 @pr2 expression@
-expression *ifm.E;
+expression E;
 identifier f;
 position p2;
 @@
@@ -46,6 +38,14 @@ position p2;
  sizeof(<+...E->f@p2...+>)
 )
 
+@ifm@
+expression *E;
+statement S1,S2;
+position p1;
+@@
+
+if@p1 ((E == NULL && ...) || ...) S1 else S2
+
 // For org and report modes
 
 @r depends on !context && (org || report) exists@
@@ -212,16 +212,8 @@ else S3
 // The following three rules are duplicates of ifm, pr1 and pr2 respectively.
 // It is need because the previous rule as already made a "change".
 
-@ifm1 depends on context && !org && !report@
-expression *E;
-statement S1,S2;
-position p1;
-@@
-
-if@p1 ((E == NULL && ...) || ...) S1 else S2
-
 @pr11 depends on context && !org && !report expression@
-expression *ifm1.E;
+expression E;
 identifier f;
 position p1;
 @@
@@ -229,7 +221,7 @@ position p1;
  (E != NULL && ...) ? <+...E->f@p1...+> : ...
 
 @pr12 depends on context && !org && !report expression@
-expression *ifm1.E;
+expression E;
 identifier f;
 position p2;
 @@
@@ -242,6 +234,14 @@ position p2;
  sizeof(<+...E->f@p2...+>)
 )
 
+@ifm1 depends on context && !org && !report@
+expression *E;
+statement S1,S2;
+position p1;
+@@
+
+if@p1 ((E == NULL && ...) || ...) S1 else S2
+
 @depends on context && !org && !report exists@
 expression subE <= ifm1.E;
 expression *ifm1.E;
diff --git a/scripts/depmod.sh b/scripts/depmod.sh
index 9831cca31240..1a6f85e0e6e1 100755
--- a/scripts/depmod.sh
+++ b/scripts/depmod.sh
@@ -3,36 +3,17 @@
 #
 # A depmod wrapper used by the toplevel Makefile
 
-if test $# -ne 3; then
-	echo "Usage: $0 /sbin/depmod <kernelrelease> <symbolprefix>" >&2
+if test $# -ne 2; then
+	echo "Usage: $0 /sbin/depmod <kernelrelease>" >&2
 	exit 1
 fi
 DEPMOD=$1
 KERNELRELEASE=$2
-SYMBOL_PREFIX=$3
 
 if ! test -r System.map -a -x "$DEPMOD"; then
 	exit 0
 fi
 
-# older versions of depmod don't support -P <symbol-prefix>
-# support was added in module-init-tools 3.13
-if test -n "$SYMBOL_PREFIX"; then
-	release=$("$DEPMOD" --version)
-	package=$(echo "$release" | cut -d' ' -f 1)
-	if test "$package" = "module-init-tools"; then
-		version=$(echo "$release" | cut -d' ' -f 2)
-		later=$(printf '%s\n' "$version" "3.13" | sort -V | tail -n 1)
-		if test "$later" != "$version"; then
-			# module-init-tools < 3.13, drop the symbol prefix
-			SYMBOL_PREFIX=""
-		fi
-	fi
-	if test -n "$SYMBOL_PREFIX"; then
-		SYMBOL_PREFIX="-P $SYMBOL_PREFIX"
-	fi
-fi
-
 # older versions of depmod require the version string to start with three
 # numbers, so we cheat with a symlink here
 depmod_hack_needed=true
@@ -55,7 +36,7 @@ set -- -ae -F System.map
 if test -n "$INSTALL_MOD_PATH"; then
 	set -- "$@" -b "$INSTALL_MOD_PATH"
 fi
-"$DEPMOD" "$@" "$KERNELRELEASE" $SYMBOL_PREFIX
+"$DEPMOD" "$@" "$KERNELRELEASE"
 ret=$?
 
 if $depmod_hack_needed; then
diff --git a/scripts/genksyms/genksyms.c b/scripts/genksyms/genksyms.c
index c9235d8340f1..e007840f45b9 100644
--- a/scripts/genksyms/genksyms.c
+++ b/scripts/genksyms/genksyms.c
@@ -45,7 +45,6 @@ int in_source_file;
 
 static int flag_debug, flag_dump_defs, flag_reference, flag_dump_types,
 	   flag_preserve, flag_warnings, flag_rel_crcs;
-static const char *mod_prefix = "";
 
 static int errors;
 static int nsyms;
@@ -693,10 +692,10 @@ void export_symbol(const char *name)
 			fputs(">\n", debugfile);
 
 		/* Used as a linker script. */
-		printf(!flag_rel_crcs ? "%s__crc_%s = 0x%08lx;\n" :
+		printf(!flag_rel_crcs ? "__crc_%s = 0x%08lx;\n" :
 		       "SECTIONS { .rodata : ALIGN(4) { "
-		       "%s__crc_%s = .; LONG(0x%08lx); } }\n",
-		       mod_prefix, name, crc);
+		       "__crc_%s = .; LONG(0x%08lx); } }\n",
+		       name, crc);
 	}
 }
 
@@ -769,7 +768,6 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 
 #ifdef __GNU_LIBRARY__
 	struct option long_opts[] = {
-		{"symbol-prefix", 1, 0, 's'},
 		{"debug", 0, 0, 'd'},
 		{"warnings", 0, 0, 'w'},
 		{"quiet", 0, 0, 'q'},
@@ -789,9 +787,6 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 	while ((o = getopt(argc, argv, "s:dwqVDr:T:phR")) != EOF)
 #endif				/* __GNU_LIBRARY__ */
 		switch (o) {
-		case 's':
-			mod_prefix = optarg;
-			break;
 		case 'd':
 			flag_debug++;
 			break;
diff --git a/scripts/kallsyms.c b/scripts/kallsyms.c
index 5abfbf1b8fe2..a9186a98a37d 100644
--- a/scripts/kallsyms.c
+++ b/scripts/kallsyms.c
@@ -62,7 +62,6 @@ static struct sym_entry *table;
 static unsigned int table_size, table_cnt;
 static int all_symbols = 0;
 static int absolute_percpu = 0;
-static char symbol_prefix_char = '\0';
 static int base_relative = 0;
 
 int token_profit[0x10000];
@@ -75,7 +74,6 @@ unsigned char best_table_len[256];
 static void usage(void)
 {
 	fprintf(stderr, "Usage: kallsyms [--all-symbols] "
-			"[--symbol-prefix=<prefix char>] "
 			"[--base-relative] < in.map > out.S\n");
 	exit(1);
 }
@@ -113,28 +111,22 @@ static int check_symbol_range(const char *sym, unsigned long long addr,
 
 static int read_symbol(FILE *in, struct sym_entry *s)
 {
-	char str[500];
-	char *sym, stype;
+	char sym[500], stype;
 	int rc;
 
-	rc = fscanf(in, "%llx %c %499s\n", &s->addr, &stype, str);
+	rc = fscanf(in, "%llx %c %499s\n", &s->addr, &stype, sym);
 	if (rc != 3) {
-		if (rc != EOF && fgets(str, 500, in) == NULL)
+		if (rc != EOF && fgets(sym, 500, in) == NULL)
 			fprintf(stderr, "Read error or end of file.\n");
 		return -1;
 	}
-	if (strlen(str) > KSYM_NAME_LEN) {
+	if (strlen(sym) > KSYM_NAME_LEN) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "Symbol %s too long for kallsyms (%zu vs %d).\n"
 				"Please increase KSYM_NAME_LEN both in kernel and kallsyms.c\n",
-			str, strlen(str), KSYM_NAME_LEN);
+			sym, strlen(sym), KSYM_NAME_LEN);
 		return -1;
 	}
 
-	sym = str;
-	/* skip prefix char */
-	if (symbol_prefix_char && str[0] == symbol_prefix_char)
-		sym++;
-
 	/* Ignore most absolute/undefined (?) symbols. */
 	if (strcmp(sym, "_text") == 0)
 		_text = s->addr;
@@ -155,7 +147,7 @@ static int read_symbol(FILE *in, struct sym_entry *s)
 		 is_arm_mapping_symbol(sym))
 		return -1;
 	/* exclude also MIPS ELF local symbols ($L123 instead of .L123) */
-	else if (str[0] == '$')
+	else if (sym[0] == '$')
 		return -1;
 	/* exclude debugging symbols */
 	else if (stype == 'N' || stype == 'n')
@@ -163,14 +155,14 @@ static int read_symbol(FILE *in, struct sym_entry *s)
 
 	/* include the type field in the symbol name, so that it gets
 	 * compressed together */
-	s->len = strlen(str) + 1;
+	s->len = strlen(sym) + 1;
 	s->sym = malloc(s->len + 1);
 	if (!s->sym) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "kallsyms failure: "
 			"unable to allocate required amount of memory\n");
 		exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
 	}
-	strcpy((char *)s->sym + 1, str);
+	strcpy((char *)s->sym + 1, sym);
 	s->sym[0] = stype;
 
 	s->percpu_absolute = 0;
@@ -233,11 +225,6 @@ static int symbol_valid(struct sym_entry *s)
 	int i;
 	char *sym_name = (char *)s->sym + 1;
 
-	/* skip prefix char */
-	if (symbol_prefix_char && *sym_name == symbol_prefix_char)
-		sym_name++;
-
-
 	/* if --all-symbols is not specified, then symbols outside the text
 	 * and inittext sections are discarded */
 	if (!all_symbols) {
@@ -302,15 +289,9 @@ static void read_map(FILE *in)
 
 static void output_label(char *label)
 {
-	if (symbol_prefix_char)
-		printf(".globl %c%s\n", symbol_prefix_char, label);
-	else
-		printf(".globl %s\n", label);
+	printf(".globl %s\n", label);
 	printf("\tALGN\n");
-	if (symbol_prefix_char)
-		printf("%c%s:\n", symbol_prefix_char, label);
-	else
-		printf("%s:\n", label);
+	printf("%s:\n", label);
 }
 
 /* uncompress a compressed symbol. When this function is called, the best table
@@ -424,7 +405,7 @@ static void write_src(void)
 	}
 
 	output_label("kallsyms_num_syms");
-	printf("\tPTR\t%d\n", table_cnt);
+	printf("\tPTR\t%u\n", table_cnt);
 	printf("\n");
 
 	/* table of offset markers, that give the offset in the compressed stream
@@ -768,13 +749,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 				all_symbols = 1;
 			else if (strcmp(argv[i], "--absolute-percpu") == 0)
 				absolute_percpu = 1;
-			else if (strncmp(argv[i], "--symbol-prefix=", 16) == 0) {
-				char *p = &argv[i][16];
-				/* skip quote */
-				if ((*p == '"' && *(p+2) == '"') || (*p == '\'' && *(p+2) == '\''))
-					p++;
-				symbol_prefix_char = *p;
-			} else if (strcmp(argv[i], "--base-relative") == 0)
+			else if (strcmp(argv[i], "--base-relative") == 0)
 				base_relative = 1;
 			else
 				usage();
diff --git a/scripts/link-vmlinux.sh b/scripts/link-vmlinux.sh
index 9045823c7be7..4bf811c09f59 100755
--- a/scripts/link-vmlinux.sh
+++ b/scripts/link-vmlinux.sh
@@ -121,10 +121,6 @@ kallsyms()
 	info KSYM ${2}
 	local kallsymopt;
 
-	if [ -n "${CONFIG_HAVE_UNDERSCORE_SYMBOL_PREFIX}" ]; then
-		kallsymopt="${kallsymopt} --symbol-prefix=_"
-	fi
-
 	if [ -n "${CONFIG_KALLSYMS_ALL}" ]; then
 		kallsymopt="${kallsymopt} --all-symbols"
 	fi
diff --git a/scripts/mod/modpost.c b/scripts/mod/modpost.c
index 4ff08a0ef5d3..1663fb19343a 100644
--- a/scripts/mod/modpost.c
+++ b/scripts/mod/modpost.c
@@ -19,9 +19,7 @@
 #include <stdbool.h>
 #include <errno.h>
 #include "modpost.h"
-#include "../../include/generated/autoconf.h"
 #include "../../include/linux/license.h"
-#include "../../include/linux/export.h"
 
 /* Are we using CONFIG_MODVERSIONS? */
 static int modversions = 0;
@@ -123,7 +121,7 @@ void *do_nofail(void *ptr, const char *expr)
 /* A list of all modules we processed */
 static struct module *modules;
 
-static struct module *find_module(char *modname)
+static struct module *find_module(const char *modname)
 {
 	struct module *mod;
 
@@ -591,35 +589,32 @@ static void parse_elf_finish(struct elf_info *info)
 static int ignore_undef_symbol(struct elf_info *info, const char *symname)
 {
 	/* ignore __this_module, it will be resolved shortly */
-	if (strcmp(symname, VMLINUX_SYMBOL_STR(__this_module)) == 0)
+	if (strcmp(symname, "__this_module") == 0)
 		return 1;
 	/* ignore global offset table */
 	if (strcmp(symname, "_GLOBAL_OFFSET_TABLE_") == 0)
 		return 1;
 	if (info->hdr->e_machine == EM_PPC)
 		/* Special register function linked on all modules during final link of .ko */
-		if (strncmp(symname, "_restgpr_", sizeof("_restgpr_") - 1) == 0 ||
-		    strncmp(symname, "_savegpr_", sizeof("_savegpr_") - 1) == 0 ||
-		    strncmp(symname, "_rest32gpr_", sizeof("_rest32gpr_") - 1) == 0 ||
-		    strncmp(symname, "_save32gpr_", sizeof("_save32gpr_") - 1) == 0 ||
-		    strncmp(symname, "_restvr_", sizeof("_restvr_") - 1) == 0 ||
-		    strncmp(symname, "_savevr_", sizeof("_savevr_") - 1) == 0)
+		if (strstarts(symname, "_restgpr_") ||
+		    strstarts(symname, "_savegpr_") ||
+		    strstarts(symname, "_rest32gpr_") ||
+		    strstarts(symname, "_save32gpr_") ||
+		    strstarts(symname, "_restvr_") ||
+		    strstarts(symname, "_savevr_"))
 			return 1;
 	if (info->hdr->e_machine == EM_PPC64)
 		/* Special register function linked on all modules during final link of .ko */
-		if (strncmp(symname, "_restgpr0_", sizeof("_restgpr0_") - 1) == 0 ||
-		    strncmp(symname, "_savegpr0_", sizeof("_savegpr0_") - 1) == 0 ||
-		    strncmp(symname, "_restvr_", sizeof("_restvr_") - 1) == 0 ||
-		    strncmp(symname, "_savevr_", sizeof("_savevr_") - 1) == 0 ||
+		if (strstarts(symname, "_restgpr0_") ||
+		    strstarts(symname, "_savegpr0_") ||
+		    strstarts(symname, "_restvr_") ||
+		    strstarts(symname, "_savevr_") ||
 		    strcmp(symname, ".TOC.") == 0)
 			return 1;
 	/* Do not ignore this symbol */
 	return 0;
 }
 
-#define CRC_PFX     VMLINUX_SYMBOL_STR(__crc_)
-#define KSYMTAB_PFX VMLINUX_SYMBOL_STR(__ksymtab_)
-
 static void handle_modversions(struct module *mod, struct elf_info *info,
 			       Elf_Sym *sym, const char *symname)
 {
@@ -628,13 +623,13 @@ static void handle_modversions(struct module *mod, struct elf_info *info,
 	bool is_crc = false;
 
 	if ((!is_vmlinux(mod->name) || mod->is_dot_o) &&
-	    strncmp(symname, "__ksymtab", 9) == 0)
+	    strstarts(symname, "__ksymtab"))
 		export = export_from_secname(info, get_secindex(info, sym));
 	else
 		export = export_from_sec(info, get_secindex(info, sym));
 
 	/* CRC'd symbol */
-	if (strncmp(symname, CRC_PFX, strlen(CRC_PFX)) == 0) {
+	if (strstarts(symname, "__crc_")) {
 		is_crc = true;
 		crc = (unsigned int) sym->st_value;
 		if (sym->st_shndx != SHN_UNDEF && sym->st_shndx != SHN_ABS) {
@@ -647,13 +642,13 @@ static void handle_modversions(struct module *mod, struct elf_info *info,
 				info->sechdrs[sym->st_shndx].sh_addr : 0);
 			crc = *crcp;
 		}
-		sym_update_crc(symname + strlen(CRC_PFX), mod, crc,
+		sym_update_crc(symname + strlen("__crc_"), mod, crc,
 				export);
 	}
 
 	switch (sym->st_shndx) {
 	case SHN_COMMON:
-		if (!strncmp(symname, "__gnu_lto_", sizeof("__gnu_lto_")-1)) {
+		if (strstarts(symname, "__gnu_lto_")) {
 			/* Should warn here, but modpost runs before the linker */
 		} else
 			warn("\"%s\" [%s] is COMMON symbol\n", symname, mod->name);
@@ -685,15 +680,10 @@ static void handle_modversions(struct module *mod, struct elf_info *info,
 		}
 #endif
 
-#ifdef CONFIG_HAVE_UNDERSCORE_SYMBOL_PREFIX
-		if (symname[0] != '_')
-			break;
-		else
-			symname++;
-#endif
 		if (is_crc) {
 			const char *e = is_vmlinux(mod->name) ?"":".ko";
-			warn("EXPORT symbol \"%s\" [%s%s] version generation failed, symbol will not be versioned.\n", symname + strlen(CRC_PFX), mod->name, e);
+			warn("EXPORT symbol \"%s\" [%s%s] version generation failed, symbol will not be versioned.\n",
+			     symname + strlen("__crc_"), mod->name, e);
 		}
 		mod->unres = alloc_symbol(symname,
 					  ELF_ST_BIND(sym->st_info) == STB_WEAK,
@@ -701,13 +691,13 @@ static void handle_modversions(struct module *mod, struct elf_info *info,
 		break;
 	default:
 		/* All exported symbols */
-		if (strncmp(symname, KSYMTAB_PFX, strlen(KSYMTAB_PFX)) == 0) {
-			sym_add_exported(symname + strlen(KSYMTAB_PFX), mod,
+		if (strstarts(symname, "__ksymtab_")) {
+			sym_add_exported(symname + strlen("__ksymtab_"), mod,
 					export);
 		}
-		if (strcmp(symname, VMLINUX_SYMBOL_STR(init_module)) == 0)
+		if (strcmp(symname, "init_module") == 0)
 			mod->has_init = 1;
-		if (strcmp(symname, VMLINUX_SYMBOL_STR(cleanup_module)) == 0)
+		if (strcmp(symname, "cleanup_module") == 0)
 			mod->has_cleanup = 1;
 		break;
 	}
@@ -734,16 +724,17 @@ static char *next_string(char *string, unsigned long *secsize)
 	return string;
 }
 
-static char *get_next_modinfo(void *modinfo, unsigned long modinfo_len,
-			      const char *tag, char *info)
+static char *get_next_modinfo(struct elf_info *info, const char *tag,
+			      char *prev)
 {
 	char *p;
 	unsigned int taglen = strlen(tag);
-	unsigned long size = modinfo_len;
+	char *modinfo = info->modinfo;
+	unsigned long size = info->modinfo_len;
 
-	if (info) {
-		size -= info - (char *)modinfo;
-		modinfo = next_string(info, &size);
+	if (prev) {
+		size -= prev - modinfo;
+		modinfo = next_string(prev, &size);
 	}
 
 	for (p = modinfo; p; p = next_string(p, &size)) {
@@ -753,11 +744,10 @@ static char *get_next_modinfo(void *modinfo, unsigned long modinfo_len,
 	return NULL;
 }
 
-static char *get_modinfo(void *modinfo, unsigned long modinfo_len,
-			 const char *tag)
+static char *get_modinfo(struct elf_info *info, const char *tag)
 
 {
-	return get_next_modinfo(modinfo, modinfo_len, tag, NULL);
+	return get_next_modinfo(info, tag, NULL);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -1181,13 +1171,13 @@ static int secref_whitelist(const struct sectioncheck *mismatch,
 	/* Check for pattern 1 */
 	if (match(tosec, init_data_sections) &&
 	    match(fromsec, data_sections) &&
-	    (strncmp(fromsym, "__param", strlen("__param")) == 0))
+	    strstarts(fromsym, "__param"))
 		return 0;
 
 	/* Check for pattern 1a */
 	if (strcmp(tosec, ".init.text") == 0 &&
 	    match(fromsec, data_sections) &&
-	    (strncmp(fromsym, "__param_ops_", strlen("__param_ops_")) == 0))
+	    strstarts(fromsym, "__param_ops_"))
 		return 0;
 
 	/* Check for pattern 2 */
@@ -1542,8 +1532,7 @@ static void default_mismatch_handler(const char *modname, struct elf_info *elf,
 	from = find_elf_symbol2(elf, r->r_offset, fromsec);
 	fromsym = sym_name(elf, from);
 
-	if (!strncmp(fromsym, "reference___initcall",
-		     sizeof("reference___initcall")-1))
+	if (strstarts(fromsym, "reference___initcall"))
 		return;
 
 	tosec = sec_name(elf, get_secindex(elf, sym));
@@ -1940,7 +1929,7 @@ static char *remove_dot(char *s)
 	return s;
 }
 
-static void read_symbols(char *modname)
+static void read_symbols(const char *modname)
 {
 	const char *symname;
 	char *version;
@@ -1961,7 +1950,7 @@ static void read_symbols(char *modname)
 		mod->skip = 1;
 	}
 
-	license = get_modinfo(info.modinfo, info.modinfo_len, "license");
+	license = get_modinfo(&info, "license");
 	if (!license && !is_vmlinux(modname))
 		warn("modpost: missing MODULE_LICENSE() in %s\n"
 		     "see include/linux/module.h for "
@@ -1973,8 +1962,7 @@ static void read_symbols(char *modname)
 			mod->gpl_compatible = 0;
 			break;
 		}
-		license = get_next_modinfo(info.modinfo, info.modinfo_len,
-					   "license", license);
+		license = get_next_modinfo(&info, "license", license);
 	}
 
 	for (sym = info.symtab_start; sym < info.symtab_stop; sym++) {
@@ -1983,11 +1971,10 @@ static void read_symbols(char *modname)
 		handle_modversions(mod, &info, sym, symname);
 		handle_moddevtable(mod, &info, sym, symname);
 	}
-	if (!is_vmlinux(modname) ||
-	     (is_vmlinux(modname) && vmlinux_section_warnings))
+	if (!is_vmlinux(modname) || vmlinux_section_warnings)
 		check_sec_ref(mod, modname, &info);
 
-	version = get_modinfo(info.modinfo, info.modinfo_len, "version");
+	version = get_modinfo(&info, "version");
 	if (version)
 		maybe_frob_rcs_version(modname, version, info.modinfo,
 				       version - (char *)info.hdr);
@@ -2174,9 +2161,7 @@ static void add_retpoline(struct buffer *b)
 
 static void add_staging_flag(struct buffer *b, const char *name)
 {
-	static const char *staging_dir = "drivers/staging";
-
-	if (strncmp(staging_dir, name, strlen(staging_dir)) == 0)
+	if (strstarts(name, "drivers/staging"))
 		buf_printf(b, "\nMODULE_INFO(staging, \"Y\");\n");
 }
 
@@ -2230,7 +2215,7 @@ static int add_versions(struct buffer *b, struct module *mod)
 			err = 1;
 			break;
 		}
-		buf_printf(b, "\t{ %#8x, __VMLINUX_SYMBOL_STR(%s) },\n",
+		buf_printf(b, "\t{ %#8x, \"%s\" },\n",
 			   s->crc, s->name);
 	}
 
diff --git a/scripts/package/mkdebian b/scripts/package/mkdebian
index 6adb3a16ba3b..985d72d1ab34 100755
--- a/scripts/package/mkdebian
+++ b/scripts/package/mkdebian
@@ -71,22 +71,21 @@ if [ "$ARCH" = "um" ] ; then
 	packagename=user-mode-linux-$version
 fi
 
-# Try to determine maintainer and email values
-if [ -n "$DEBEMAIL" ]; then
-       email=$DEBEMAIL
-elif [ -n "$EMAIL" ]; then
-       email=$EMAIL
+email=${DEBEMAIL-$EMAIL}
+
+# use email string directly if it contains <email>
+if echo $email | grep -q '<.*>'; then
+	maintainer=$email
 else
-       email=$(id -nu)@$(hostname -f 2>/dev/null || hostname)
+	# or construct the maintainer string
+	user=${KBUILD_BUILD_USER-$(id -nu)}
+	name=${DEBFULLNAME-$user}
+	if [ -z "$email" ]; then
+		buildhost=${KBUILD_BUILD_HOST-$(hostname -f 2>/dev/null || hostname)}
+		email="$user@$buildhost"
+	fi
+	maintainer="$name <$email>"
 fi
-if [ -n "$DEBFULLNAME" ]; then
-       name=$DEBFULLNAME
-elif [ -n "$NAME" ]; then
-       name=$NAME
-else
-       name="Anonymous"
-fi
-maintainer="$name <$email>"
 
 # Try to determine distribution
 if [ -n "$KDEB_CHANGELOG_DIST" ]; then
diff --git a/scripts/recordmcount.c b/scripts/recordmcount.c
index 8c9691c3329e..895c40e8679f 100644
--- a/scripts/recordmcount.c
+++ b/scripts/recordmcount.c
@@ -500,7 +500,7 @@ do_file(char const *const fname)
 	gpfx = 0;
 	switch (w2(ehdr->e_machine)) {
 	default:
-		fprintf(stderr, "unrecognized e_machine %d %s\n",
+		fprintf(stderr, "unrecognized e_machine %u %s\n",
 			w2(ehdr->e_machine), fname);
 		fail_file();
 		break;
diff --git a/scripts/recordmcount.h b/scripts/recordmcount.h
index b9897e2be404..2e7793735e14 100644
--- a/scripts/recordmcount.h
+++ b/scripts/recordmcount.h
@@ -441,7 +441,7 @@ static unsigned find_secsym_ndx(unsigned const txtndx,
 			return symp - sym0;
 		}
 	}
-	fprintf(stderr, "Cannot find symbol for section %d: %s.\n",
+	fprintf(stderr, "Cannot find symbol for section %u: %s.\n",
 		txtndx, txtname);
 	fail_file();
 }
diff --git a/scripts/tags.sh b/scripts/tags.sh
index 78e546ff689c..e587610d1492 100755
--- a/scripts/tags.sh
+++ b/scripts/tags.sh
@@ -28,20 +28,11 @@ fi
 # ignore userspace tools
 ignore="$ignore ( -path ${tree}tools ) -prune -o"
 
-# Find all available archs
-find_all_archs()
-{
-	ALLSOURCE_ARCHS=""
-	for arch in `ls ${tree}arch`; do
-		ALLSOURCE_ARCHS="${ALLSOURCE_ARCHS} "${arch##\/}
-	done
-}
-
 # Detect if ALLSOURCE_ARCHS is set. If not, we assume SRCARCH
 if [ "${ALLSOURCE_ARCHS}" = "" ]; then
 	ALLSOURCE_ARCHS=${SRCARCH}
 elif [ "${ALLSOURCE_ARCHS}" = "all" ]; then
-	find_all_archs
+	ALLSOURCE_ARCHS=$(find ${tree}arch/ -mindepth 1 -maxdepth 1 -type d -printf '%f ')
 fi
 
 # find sources in arch/$ARCH