I tried
#emerge DavuN world

when it gets to sys/libs/glibc-2.4-r4 i get this error.

I tried emerging gcc and emerge -u gcc but it still doesnt work
configure: error:
*** These critical programs are missing or too old: gcc
*** Check the INSTALL file for required versions.

!!! ERROR: sys-libs/glibc-2.4-r4 failed.
Call stack:
ebuild.sh, line 1546: Called dyn_compile
ebuild.sh, line 937: Called src_compile
glibc-2.4-r4.ebuild, line 1174: Called toolchain-glibc_src_compile
glibc-2.4-r4.ebuild, line 257: Called glibc_do_configure 'nptl'
glibc-2.4-r4.ebuild, line 925: Called die

!!! failed to configure glibc
!!! If you need support, post the topmost build error, and the call stack if relevant.

Try:

# emerge gcc

I have tried that before but I get the same error I believe. I will try it again and post the error.

I emerge gcc and it seems to go through but then it emerges glibs i guess cause its a dependancy the following is what I get

checking whether autoconf works... yes
configure: error:
*** These critical programs are missing or too old: gcc
*** Check the INSTALL file for required versions.

!!! ERROR: sys-libs/glibc-2.4-r4 failed.
Call stack:
ebuild.sh, line 1546: Called dyn_compile
ebuild.sh, line 937: Called src_compile
glibc-2.4-r4.ebuild, line 1174: Called toolchain-glibc_src_compile
glibc-2.4-r4.ebuild, line 257: Called glibc_do_configure 'nptl'
glibc-2.4-r4.ebuild, line 925: Called die

!!! failed to configure glibc
!!! If you need support, post the topmost build error, and the call stack if relevant.

What version of gcc is used?

$ gcc --version | head -1

this is what I get

gcc (GCC) 3.3.5 (Gentoo Linux 3.3.5-r1, ssp-3.3.2-3, pie-8.7.7.1)

Ooh, that's a little old. What's the output of:

$ gcc-config -l

[1] i686-pc-linux-gnu-3.3.5 *
[2] i686-pc-linux-gnu-3.3.5-hardened
[3] i686-pc-linux-gnu-3.3.5-hardenednopie
[4] i686-pc-linux-gnu-3.3.5-hardenednossp
[5] i686-pc-linux-gnu-4.1.1

Ok. What I suggest you do is:

# gcc-config 5
# source /etc/profile
# emerge -DavuN world

That should do it.

Oh, and BEFORE you do the emerge... edit /etc/make.conf and add this to your USE flag line:

nptl nptlonly

Because if you don't, glibc 2.4 or later won't compile.

(It's also not a big deal on Linode because Linode now supports NPTL natively for recentish 2.6 UML kernels.)

Thanks for the advice.

I am guessing the gcc-config 5 is telling it to use i686-pc-linux-gnu-4.1.1

Am I correct?
Does that mean I had already installed it and just had not configured it?

currently running emerge -DavuN world I will let you know how it goes as soon as it it done... Thanks again

Correct on both counts.

I think you needed at least gcc 3.4.x for glibc 2.4, which is why it bombed when you tried to build with gcc 3.3.5.

No big deal; switching to 4.1 will work. In fact, I did that build on another Linode a short time ago.

PERFECT worked like a charm!!!!! Thanks a million