binfmt-support The binfmt_misc kernel module, contained in versions 2.1.43 and later of the Linux kernel, allows system administrators to register interpreters for various binary formats based on a magic number or their file extension, and cause the appropriate interpreter to be invoked whenever a matching file is executed. Think of it as a more flexible version of the #! executable interpreter mechanism. binfmt-support provides an update-binfmts script with which package maintainers can register interpreters to be used with this module without having to worry about writing their own init.d scripts, and which sysadmins can use for a slightly higher-level interface to this module. You will want to add an fstab entry for binfmt_misc: none /proc/sys/fs/binfmt_misc binfmt_misc defaults 0 0 You will also want to make sure the binfmt_misc kernel module is loaded at boot by adding '/sbin/modprobe binfmt_misc' to /etc/rc.d/rc.modules.local. To have binfmt-support start and stop with your host, add to /etc/rc.d/rc.local: if [ -x /etc/rc.d/rc.binfmt-support ]; then /etc/rc.d/rc.binfmt-support start fi and to /etc/rc.d/rc.local_shutdown (creating it if needed): if [ -x /etc/rc.d/rc.binfmt-support ]; then /etc/rc.d/rc.binfmt-support stop fi