Mono(tm) Binary Kernel Support for Linux

To configure Linux to automatically execute Mono-based .NET binaries(in the form of .exe files) without the need to use the mono CLRwrapper, you can use the BINFMT_MISC kernel support.

This will allow you to execute Mono-based .NET binaries just like anyother program after you have done the following:

  1. You MUST FIRST install the Mono CLR support, either by downloadinga binary package, a source tarball or by installing from Git. Binarypackages for several distributions can be found at:

    Instructions for compiling Mono can be found at:

    Once the Mono CLR support has been installed, just check that/usr/bin/mono (which could be located elsewhere, for example/usr/local/bin/mono) is working.

  2. You have to compile BINFMT_MISC either as a module or intothe kernel (CONFIG_BINFMT_MISC) and set it up properly.If you choose to compile it as a module, you will haveto insert it manually with modprobe/insmod, as kmodcannot be easily supported with binfmt_misc.Read the filebinfmt_misc.txt in this directory to knowmore about the configuration process.

  3. Add the following entries to/etc/rc.local or similar scriptto be run at system startup:

    # Insert BINFMT_MISC module into the kernelif[!-e/proc/sys/fs/binfmt_misc/register];then/sbin/modprobebinfmt_misc# Some distributions, like Fedora Core, perform# the following command automatically when the# binfmt_misc module is loaded into the kernel# or during normal boot up (systemd-based systems).# Thus, it is possible that the following line# is not needed at all.mount-tbinfmt_miscnone/proc/sys/fs/binfmt_miscfi# Register support for .NET CLR binariesif[-e/proc/sys/fs/binfmt_misc/register];then# Replace /usr/bin/mono with the correct pathname to# the Mono CLR runtime (usually /usr/local/bin/mono# when compiling from sources or CVS).echo':CLR:M::MZ::/usr/bin/mono:'>/proc/sys/fs/binfmt_misc/registerelseecho"No binfmt_misc support"exit1fi

  4. Check that.exe binaries can be ran without the need of awrapper script, simply by launching the.exe file directlyfrom a command prompt, for example:

    /usr/bin/xsd.exe

    Note

    If this fails with a permission denied error, checkthat the.exe file has execute permissions.