diff --git a/tools/lib/bpf/linker.c b/tools/lib/bpf/linker.c
index 5505c85e8b7b..23f49945dc7a 100644
--- a/tools/lib/bpf/linker.c
+++ b/tools/lib/bpf/linker.c
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@
 #include "libbpf_internal.h"
 #include "strset.h"
 
+#define BTF_EXTERN_SEC ".extern"
+
 struct src_sec {
 	const char *sec_name;
 	/* positional (not necessarily ELF) index in an array of sections */
@@ -74,11 +76,36 @@ struct btf_ext_sec_data {
 	void *recs;
 };
 
+struct glob_sym {
+	/* ELF symbol index */
+	int sym_idx;
+	/* associated section id for .ksyms, .kconfig, etc, but not .extern */
+	int sec_id;
+	/* extern name offset in STRTAB */
+	int name_off;
+	/* optional associated BTF type ID */
+	int btf_id;
+	/* BTF type ID to which VAR/FUNC type is pointing to; used for
+	 * rewriting types when extern VAR/FUNC is resolved to a concrete
+	 * definition
+	 */
+	int underlying_btf_id;
+	/* sec_var index in the corresponding dst_sec, if exists */
+	int var_idx;
+
+	/* extern or resolved/global symbol */
+	bool is_extern;
+	/* weak or strong symbol, never goes back from strong to weak */
+	bool is_weak;
+};
+
 struct dst_sec {
 	char *sec_name;
 	/* positional (not necessarily ELF) index in an array of sections */
 	int id;
 
+	bool ephemeral;
+
 	/* ELF info */
 	size_t sec_idx;
 	Elf_Scn *scn;
@@ -120,6 +147,10 @@ struct bpf_linker {
 
 	struct btf *btf;
 	struct btf_ext *btf_ext;
+
+	/* global (including extern) ELF symbols */
+	int glob_sym_cnt;
+	struct glob_sym *glob_syms;
 };
 
 #define pr_warn_elf(fmt, ...)									\
@@ -136,6 +167,8 @@ static int linker_sanity_check_btf_ext(struct src_obj *obj);
 static int linker_fixup_btf(struct src_obj *obj);
 static int linker_append_sec_data(struct bpf_linker *linker, struct src_obj *obj);
 static int linker_append_elf_syms(struct bpf_linker *linker, struct src_obj *obj);
+static int linker_append_elf_sym(struct bpf_linker *linker, struct src_obj *obj,
+				 Elf64_Sym *sym, const char *sym_name, int src_sym_idx);
 static int linker_append_elf_relos(struct bpf_linker *linker, struct src_obj *obj);
 static int linker_append_btf(struct bpf_linker *linker, struct src_obj *obj);
 static int linker_append_btf_ext(struct bpf_linker *linker, struct src_obj *obj);
@@ -947,6 +980,7 @@ static int init_sec(struct bpf_linker *linker, struct dst_sec *dst_sec, struct s
 
 	dst_sec->sec_sz = 0;
 	dst_sec->sec_idx = 0;
+	dst_sec->ephemeral = src_sec->ephemeral;
 
 	/* ephemeral sections are just thin section shells lacking most parts */
 	if (src_sec->ephemeral)
@@ -1010,6 +1044,9 @@ static struct dst_sec *find_dst_sec_by_name(struct bpf_linker *linker, const cha
 
 static bool secs_match(struct dst_sec *dst, struct src_sec *src)
 {
+	if (dst->ephemeral || src->ephemeral)
+		return true;
+
 	if (dst->shdr->sh_type != src->shdr->sh_type) {
 		pr_warn("sec %s types mismatch\n", dst->sec_name);
 		return false;
@@ -1035,13 +1072,33 @@ static bool sec_content_is_same(struct dst_sec *dst_sec, struct src_sec *src_sec
 	return true;
 }
 
-static int extend_sec(struct dst_sec *dst, struct src_sec *src)
+static int extend_sec(struct bpf_linker *linker, struct dst_sec *dst, struct src_sec *src)
 {
 	void *tmp;
-	size_t dst_align = dst->shdr->sh_addralign;
-	size_t src_align = src->shdr->sh_addralign;
+	size_t dst_align, src_align;
 	size_t dst_align_sz, dst_final_sz;
+	int err;
 
+	/* Ephemeral source section doesn't contribute anything to ELF
+	 * section data.
+	 */
+	if (src->ephemeral)
+		return 0;
+
+	/* Some sections (like .maps) can contain both externs (and thus be
+	 * ephemeral) and non-externs (map definitions). So it's possible that
+	 * it has to be "upgraded" from ephemeral to non-ephemeral when the
+	 * first non-ephemeral entity appears. In such case, we add ELF
+	 * section, data, etc.
+	 */
+	if (dst->ephemeral) {
+		err = init_sec(linker, dst, src);
+		if (err)
+			return err;
+	}
+
+	dst_align = dst->shdr->sh_addralign;
+	src_align = src->shdr->sh_addralign;
 	if (dst_align == 0)
 		dst_align = 1;
 	if (dst_align < src_align)
@@ -1137,10 +1194,7 @@ static int linker_append_sec_data(struct bpf_linker *linker, struct src_obj *obj
 		/* record mapped section index */
 		src_sec->dst_id = dst_sec->id;
 
-		if (src_sec->ephemeral)
-			continue;
-
-		err = extend_sec(dst_sec, src_sec);
+		err = extend_sec(linker, dst_sec, src_sec);
 		if (err)
 			return err;
 	}
@@ -1151,21 +1205,16 @@ static int linker_append_sec_data(struct bpf_linker *linker, struct src_obj *obj
 static int linker_append_elf_syms(struct bpf_linker *linker, struct src_obj *obj)
 {
 	struct src_sec *symtab = &obj->secs[obj->symtab_sec_idx];
-	Elf64_Sym *sym = symtab->data->d_buf, *dst_sym;
-	int i, n = symtab->shdr->sh_size / symtab->shdr->sh_entsize;
+	Elf64_Sym *sym = symtab->data->d_buf;
+	int i, n = symtab->shdr->sh_size / symtab->shdr->sh_entsize, err;
 	int str_sec_idx = symtab->shdr->sh_link;
+	const char *sym_name;
 
 	obj->sym_map = calloc(n + 1, sizeof(*obj->sym_map));
 	if (!obj->sym_map)
 		return -ENOMEM;
 
 	for (i = 0; i < n; i++, sym++) {
-		struct src_sec *src_sec = NULL;
-		struct dst_sec *dst_sec = NULL;
-		const char *sym_name;
-		size_t dst_sym_idx;
-		int name_off;
-
 		/* We already validated all-zero symbol #0 and we already
 		 * appended it preventively to the final SYMTAB, so skip it.
 		 */
@@ -1178,41 +1227,624 @@ static int linker_append_elf_syms(struct bpf_linker *linker, struct src_obj *obj
 			return -EINVAL;
 		}
 
-		if (sym->st_shndx && sym->st_shndx < SHN_LORESERVE) {
-			src_sec = &obj->secs[sym->st_shndx];
-			if (src_sec->skipped)
-				continue;
-			dst_sec = &linker->secs[src_sec->dst_id];
+		err = linker_append_elf_sym(linker, obj, sym, sym_name, i);
+		if (err)
+			return err;
+	}
 
-			/* allow only one STT_SECTION symbol per section */
-			if (ELF64_ST_TYPE(sym->st_info) == STT_SECTION && dst_sec->sec_sym_idx) {
-				obj->sym_map[i] = dst_sec->sec_sym_idx;
-				continue;
-			}
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static Elf64_Sym *get_sym_by_idx(struct bpf_linker *linker, size_t sym_idx)
+{
+	struct dst_sec *symtab = &linker->secs[linker->symtab_sec_idx];
+	Elf64_Sym *syms = symtab->raw_data;
+
+	return &syms[sym_idx];
+}
+
+static struct glob_sym *find_glob_sym(struct bpf_linker *linker, const char *sym_name)
+{
+	struct glob_sym *glob_sym;
+	const char *name;
+	int i;
+
+	for (i = 0; i < linker->glob_sym_cnt; i++) {
+		glob_sym = &linker->glob_syms[i];
+		name = strset__data(linker->strtab_strs) + glob_sym->name_off;
+
+		if (strcmp(name, sym_name) == 0)
+			return glob_sym;
+	}
+
+	return NULL;
+}
+
+static struct glob_sym *add_glob_sym(struct bpf_linker *linker)
+{
+	struct glob_sym *syms, *sym;
+
+	syms = libbpf_reallocarray(linker->glob_syms, linker->glob_sym_cnt + 1,
+				   sizeof(*linker->glob_syms));
+	if (!syms)
+		return NULL;
+
+	sym = &syms[linker->glob_sym_cnt];
+	memset(sym, 0, sizeof(*sym));
+	sym->var_idx = -1;
+
+	linker->glob_syms = syms;
+	linker->glob_sym_cnt++;
+
+	return sym;
+}
+
+static bool glob_sym_btf_matches(const char *sym_name, bool exact,
+				 const struct btf *btf1, __u32 id1,
+				 const struct btf *btf2, __u32 id2)
+{
+	const struct btf_type *t1, *t2;
+	bool is_static1, is_static2;
+	const char *n1, *n2;
+	int i, n;
+
+recur:
+	n1 = n2 = NULL;
+	t1 = skip_mods_and_typedefs(btf1, id1, &id1);
+	t2 = skip_mods_and_typedefs(btf2, id2, &id2);
+
+	/* check if only one side is FWD, otherwise handle with common logic */
+	if (!exact && btf_is_fwd(t1) != btf_is_fwd(t2)) {
+		n1 = btf__str_by_offset(btf1, t1->name_off);
+		n2 = btf__str_by_offset(btf2, t2->name_off);
+		if (strcmp(n1, n2) != 0) {
+			pr_warn("global '%s': incompatible forward declaration names '%s' and '%s'\n",
+				sym_name, n1, n2);
+			return false;
+		}
+		/* validate if FWD kind matches concrete kind */
+		if (btf_is_fwd(t1)) {
+			if (btf_kflag(t1) && btf_is_union(t2))
+				return true;
+			if (!btf_kflag(t1) && btf_is_struct(t2))
+				return true;
+			pr_warn("global '%s': incompatible %s forward declaration and concrete kind %s\n",
+				sym_name, btf_kflag(t1) ? "union" : "struct", btf_kind_str(t2));
+		} else {
+			if (btf_kflag(t2) && btf_is_union(t1))
+				return true;
+			if (!btf_kflag(t2) && btf_is_struct(t1))
+				return true;
+			pr_warn("global '%s': incompatible %s forward declaration and concrete kind %s\n",
+				sym_name, btf_kflag(t2) ? "union" : "struct", btf_kind_str(t1));
+		}
+		return false;
+	}
+
+	if (btf_kind(t1) != btf_kind(t2)) {
+		pr_warn("global '%s': incompatible BTF kinds %s and %s\n",
+			sym_name, btf_kind_str(t1), btf_kind_str(t2));
+		return false;
+	}
+
+	switch (btf_kind(t1)) {
+	case BTF_KIND_STRUCT:
+	case BTF_KIND_UNION:
+	case BTF_KIND_ENUM:
+	case BTF_KIND_FWD:
+	case BTF_KIND_FUNC:
+	case BTF_KIND_VAR:
+		n1 = btf__str_by_offset(btf1, t1->name_off);
+		n2 = btf__str_by_offset(btf2, t2->name_off);
+		if (strcmp(n1, n2) != 0) {
+			pr_warn("global '%s': incompatible %s names '%s' and '%s'\n",
+				sym_name, btf_kind_str(t1), n1, n2);
+			return false;
+		}
+		break;
+	default:
+		break;
+	}
+
+	switch (btf_kind(t1)) {
+	case BTF_KIND_UNKN: /* void */
+	case BTF_KIND_FWD:
+		return true;
+	case BTF_KIND_INT:
+	case BTF_KIND_FLOAT:
+	case BTF_KIND_ENUM:
+		/* ignore encoding for int and enum values for enum */
+		if (t1->size != t2->size) {
+			pr_warn("global '%s': incompatible %s '%s' size %u and %u\n",
+				sym_name, btf_kind_str(t1), n1, t1->size, t2->size);
+			return false;
+		}
+		return true;
+	case BTF_KIND_PTR:
+		/* just validate overall shape of the referenced type, so no
+		 * contents comparison for struct/union, and allowd fwd vs
+		 * struct/union
+		 */
+		exact = false;
+		id1 = t1->type;
+		id2 = t2->type;
+		goto recur;
+	case BTF_KIND_ARRAY:
+		/* ignore index type and array size */
+		id1 = btf_array(t1)->type;
+		id2 = btf_array(t2)->type;
+		goto recur;
+	case BTF_KIND_FUNC:
+		/* extern and global linkages are compatible */
+		is_static1 = btf_func_linkage(t1) == BTF_FUNC_STATIC;
+		is_static2 = btf_func_linkage(t2) == BTF_FUNC_STATIC;
+		if (is_static1 != is_static2) {
+			pr_warn("global '%s': incompatible func '%s' linkage\n", sym_name, n1);
+			return false;
 		}
 
-		name_off = strset__add_str(linker->strtab_strs, sym_name);
-		if (name_off < 0)
-			return name_off;
+		id1 = t1->type;
+		id2 = t2->type;
+		goto recur;
+	case BTF_KIND_VAR:
+		/* extern and global linkages are compatible */
+		is_static1 = btf_var(t1)->linkage == BTF_VAR_STATIC;
+		is_static2 = btf_var(t2)->linkage == BTF_VAR_STATIC;
+		if (is_static1 != is_static2) {
+			pr_warn("global '%s': incompatible var '%s' linkage\n", sym_name, n1);
+			return false;
+		}
 
-		dst_sym = add_new_sym(linker, &dst_sym_idx);
-		if (!dst_sym)
-			return -ENOMEM;
+		id1 = t1->type;
+		id2 = t2->type;
+		goto recur;
+	case BTF_KIND_STRUCT:
+	case BTF_KIND_UNION: {
+		const struct btf_member *m1, *m2;
 
-		dst_sym->st_name = name_off;
-		dst_sym->st_info = sym->st_info;
-		dst_sym->st_other = sym->st_other;
-		dst_sym->st_shndx = src_sec ? dst_sec->sec_idx : sym->st_shndx;
-		dst_sym->st_value = (src_sec ? src_sec->dst_off : 0) + sym->st_value;
+		if (!exact)
+			return true;
+
+		if (btf_vlen(t1) != btf_vlen(t2)) {
+			pr_warn("global '%s': incompatible number of %s fields %u and %u\n",
+				sym_name, btf_kind_str(t1), btf_vlen(t1), btf_vlen(t2));
+			return false;
+		}
+
+		n = btf_vlen(t1);
+		m1 = btf_members(t1);
+		m2 = btf_members(t2);
+		for (i = 0; i < n; i++, m1++, m2++) {
+			n1 = btf__str_by_offset(btf1, m1->name_off);
+			n2 = btf__str_by_offset(btf2, m2->name_off);
+			if (strcmp(n1, n2) != 0) {
+				pr_warn("global '%s': incompatible field #%d names '%s' and '%s'\n",
+					sym_name, i, n1, n2);
+				return false;
+			}
+			if (m1->offset != m2->offset) {
+				pr_warn("global '%s': incompatible field #%d ('%s') offsets\n",
+					sym_name, i, n1);
+				return false;
+			}
+			if (!glob_sym_btf_matches(sym_name, exact, btf1, m1->type, btf2, m2->type))
+				return false;
+		}
+
+		return true;
+	}
+	case BTF_KIND_FUNC_PROTO: {
+		const struct btf_param *m1, *m2;
+
+		if (btf_vlen(t1) != btf_vlen(t2)) {
+			pr_warn("global '%s': incompatible number of %s params %u and %u\n",
+				sym_name, btf_kind_str(t1), btf_vlen(t1), btf_vlen(t2));
+			return false;
+		}
+
+		n = btf_vlen(t1);
+		m1 = btf_params(t1);
+		m2 = btf_params(t2);
+		for (i = 0; i < n; i++, m1++, m2++) {
+			/* ignore func arg names */
+			if (!glob_sym_btf_matches(sym_name, exact, btf1, m1->type, btf2, m2->type))
+				return false;
+		}
+
+		/* now check return type as well */
+		id1 = t1->type;
+		id2 = t2->type;
+		goto recur;
+	}
+
+	/* skip_mods_and_typedefs() make this impossible */
+	case BTF_KIND_TYPEDEF:
+	case BTF_KIND_VOLATILE:
+	case BTF_KIND_CONST:
+	case BTF_KIND_RESTRICT:
+	/* DATASECs are never compared with each other */
+	case BTF_KIND_DATASEC:
+	default:
+		pr_warn("global '%s': unsupported BTF kind %s\n",
+			sym_name, btf_kind_str(t1));
+		return false;
+	}
+}
+
+static bool glob_syms_match(const char *sym_name,
+			    struct bpf_linker *linker, struct glob_sym *glob_sym,
+			    struct src_obj *obj, Elf64_Sym *sym, size_t sym_idx, int btf_id)
+{
+	const struct btf_type *src_t;
+
+	/* if we are dealing with externs, BTF types describing both global
+	 * and extern VARs/FUNCs should be completely present in all files
+	 */
+	if (!glob_sym->btf_id || !btf_id) {
+		pr_warn("BTF info is missing for global symbol '%s'\n", sym_name);
+		return false;
+	}
+
+	src_t = btf__type_by_id(obj->btf, btf_id);
+	if (!btf_is_var(src_t) && !btf_is_func(src_t)) {
+		pr_warn("only extern variables and functions are supported, but got '%s' for '%s'\n",
+			btf_kind_str(src_t), sym_name);
+		return false;
+	}
+
+	if (!glob_sym_btf_matches(sym_name, true /*exact*/,
+				  linker->btf, glob_sym->btf_id, obj->btf, btf_id))
+		return false;
+
+	return true;
+}
+
+static bool btf_is_non_static(const struct btf_type *t)
+{
+	return (btf_is_var(t) && btf_var(t)->linkage != BTF_VAR_STATIC)
+	       || (btf_is_func(t) && btf_func_linkage(t) != BTF_FUNC_STATIC);
+}
+
+static int find_glob_sym_btf(struct src_obj *obj, Elf64_Sym *sym, const char *sym_name,
+			     int *out_btf_sec_id, int *out_btf_id)
+{
+	int i, j, n = btf__get_nr_types(obj->btf), m, btf_id = 0;
+	const struct btf_type *t;
+	const struct btf_var_secinfo *vi;
+	const char *name;
+
+	for (i = 1; i <= n; i++) {
+		t = btf__type_by_id(obj->btf, i);
+
+		/* some global and extern FUNCs and VARs might not be associated with any
+		 * DATASEC, so try to detect them in the same pass
+		 */
+		if (btf_is_non_static(t)) {
+			name = btf__str_by_offset(obj->btf, t->name_off);
+			if (strcmp(name, sym_name) != 0)
+				continue;
+
+			/* remember and still try to find DATASEC */
+			btf_id = i;
+			continue;
+		}
+
+		if (!btf_is_datasec(t))
+			continue;
+
+		vi = btf_var_secinfos(t);
+		for (j = 0, m = btf_vlen(t); j < m; j++, vi++) {
+			t = btf__type_by_id(obj->btf, vi->type);
+			name = btf__str_by_offset(obj->btf, t->name_off);
+
+			if (strcmp(name, sym_name) != 0)
+				continue;
+			if (btf_is_var(t) && btf_var(t)->linkage == BTF_VAR_STATIC)
+				continue;
+			if (btf_is_func(t) && btf_func_linkage(t) == BTF_FUNC_STATIC)
+				continue;
+
+			if (btf_id && btf_id != vi->type) {
+				pr_warn("global/extern '%s' BTF is ambiguous: both types #%d and #%u match\n",
+					sym_name, btf_id, vi->type);
+				return -EINVAL;
+			}
+
+			*out_btf_sec_id = i;
+			*out_btf_id = vi->type;
+
+			return 0;
+		}
+	}
+
+	/* free-floating extern or global FUNC */
+	if (btf_id) {
+		*out_btf_sec_id = 0;
+		*out_btf_id = btf_id;
+		return 0;
+	}
+
+	pr_warn("failed to find BTF info for global/extern symbol '%s'\n", sym_name);
+	return -ENOENT;
+}
+
+static struct src_sec *find_src_sec_by_name(struct src_obj *obj, const char *sec_name)
+{
+	struct src_sec *sec;
+	int i;
+
+	for (i = 1; i < obj->sec_cnt; i++) {
+		sec = &obj->secs[i];
+
+		if (strcmp(sec->sec_name, sec_name) == 0)
+			return sec;
+	}
+
+	return NULL;
+}
+
+static int complete_extern_btf_info(struct btf *dst_btf, int dst_id,
+				    struct btf *src_btf, int src_id)
+{
+	struct btf_type *dst_t = btf_type_by_id(dst_btf, dst_id);
+	struct btf_type *src_t = btf_type_by_id(src_btf, src_id);
+	struct btf_param *src_p, *dst_p;
+	const char *s;
+	int i, n, off;
+
+	/* We already made sure that source and destination types (FUNC or
+	 * VAR) match in terms of types and argument names.
+	 */
+	if (btf_is_var(dst_t)) {
+		btf_var(dst_t)->linkage = BTF_VAR_GLOBAL_ALLOCATED;
+		return 0;
+	}
+
+	dst_t->info = btf_type_info(BTF_KIND_FUNC, BTF_FUNC_GLOBAL, 0);
+
+	/* now onto FUNC_PROTO types */
+	src_t = btf_type_by_id(src_btf, src_t->type);
+	dst_t = btf_type_by_id(dst_btf, dst_t->type);
+
+	/* Fill in all the argument names, which for extern FUNCs are missing.
+	 * We'll end up with two copies of FUNCs/VARs for externs, but that
+	 * will be taken care of by BTF dedup at the very end.
+	 * It might be that BTF types for extern in one file has less/more BTF
+	 * information (e.g., FWD instead of full STRUCT/UNION information),
+	 * but that should be (in most cases, subject to BTF dedup rules)
+	 * handled and resolved by BTF dedup algorithm as well, so we won't
+	 * worry about it. Our only job is to make sure that argument names
+	 * are populated on both sides, otherwise BTF dedup will pedantically
+	 * consider them different.
+	 */
+	src_p = btf_params(src_t);
+	dst_p = btf_params(dst_t);
+	for (i = 0, n = btf_vlen(dst_t); i < n; i++, src_p++, dst_p++) {
+		if (!src_p->name_off)
+			continue;
+
+		/* src_btf has more complete info, so add name to dst_btf */
+		s = btf__str_by_offset(src_btf, src_p->name_off);
+		off = btf__add_str(dst_btf, s);
+		if (off < 0)
+			return off;
+		dst_p->name_off = off;
+	}
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static void sym_update_bind(Elf64_Sym *sym, int sym_bind)
+{
+	sym->st_info = ELF64_ST_INFO(sym_bind, ELF64_ST_TYPE(sym->st_info));
+}
+
+static void sym_update_type(Elf64_Sym *sym, int sym_type)
+{
+	sym->st_info = ELF64_ST_INFO(ELF64_ST_BIND(sym->st_info), sym_type);
+}
+
+static void sym_update_visibility(Elf64_Sym *sym, int sym_vis)
+{
+	/* libelf doesn't provide setters for ST_VISIBILITY,
+	 * but it is stored in the lower 2 bits of st_other
+	 */
+	sym->st_other &= 0x03;
+	sym->st_other |= sym_vis;
+}
+
+static int linker_append_elf_sym(struct bpf_linker *linker, struct src_obj *obj,
+				 Elf64_Sym *sym, const char *sym_name, int src_sym_idx)
+{
+	struct src_sec *src_sec = NULL;
+	struct dst_sec *dst_sec = NULL;
+	struct glob_sym *glob_sym = NULL;
+	int name_off, sym_type, sym_bind, sym_vis, err;
+	int btf_sec_id = 0, btf_id = 0;
+	size_t dst_sym_idx;
+	Elf64_Sym *dst_sym;
+	bool sym_is_extern;
+
+	sym_type = ELF64_ST_TYPE(sym->st_info);
+	sym_bind = ELF64_ST_BIND(sym->st_info);
+	sym_vis = ELF64_ST_VISIBILITY(sym->st_other);
+	sym_is_extern = sym->st_shndx == SHN_UNDEF;
+
+	if (sym_is_extern) {
+		if (!obj->btf) {
+			pr_warn("externs without BTF info are not supported\n");
+			return -ENOTSUP;
+		}
+	} else if (sym->st_shndx < SHN_LORESERVE) {
+		src_sec = &obj->secs[sym->st_shndx];
+		if (src_sec->skipped)
+			return 0;
+		dst_sec = &linker->secs[src_sec->dst_id];
+
+		/* allow only one STT_SECTION symbol per section */
+		if (sym_type == STT_SECTION && dst_sec->sec_sym_idx) {
+			obj->sym_map[src_sym_idx] = dst_sec->sec_sym_idx;
+			return 0;
+		}
+	}
+
+	if (sym_bind == STB_LOCAL)
+		goto add_sym;
+
+	/* find matching BTF info */
+	err = find_glob_sym_btf(obj, sym, sym_name, &btf_sec_id, &btf_id);
+	if (err)
+		return err;
+
+	if (sym_is_extern && btf_sec_id) {
+		const char *sec_name = NULL;
+		const struct btf_type *t;
+
+		t = btf__type_by_id(obj->btf, btf_sec_id);
+		sec_name = btf__str_by_offset(obj->btf, t->name_off);
+
+		/* Clang puts unannotated extern vars into
+		 * '.extern' BTF DATASEC. Treat them the same
+		 * as unannotated extern funcs (which are
+		 * currently not put into any DATASECs).
+		 * Those don't have associated src_sec/dst_sec.
+		 */
+		if (strcmp(sec_name, BTF_EXTERN_SEC) != 0) {
+			src_sec = find_src_sec_by_name(obj, sec_name);
+			if (!src_sec) {
+				pr_warn("failed to find matching ELF sec '%s'\n", sec_name);
+				return -ENOENT;
+			}
+			dst_sec = &linker->secs[src_sec->dst_id];
+		}
+	}
+
+	glob_sym = find_glob_sym(linker, sym_name);
+	if (glob_sym) {
+		/* Preventively resolve to existing symbol. This is
+		 * needed for further relocation symbol remapping in
+		 * the next step of linking.
+		 */
+		obj->sym_map[src_sym_idx] = glob_sym->sym_idx;
+
+		/* If both symbols are non-externs, at least one of
+		 * them has to be STB_WEAK, otherwise they are in
+		 * a conflict with each other.
+		 */
+		if (!sym_is_extern && !glob_sym->is_extern
+		    && !glob_sym->is_weak && sym_bind != STB_WEAK) {
+			pr_warn("conflicting non-weak symbol #%d (%s) definition in '%s'\n",
+				src_sym_idx, sym_name, obj->filename);
+			return -EINVAL;
+		}
+
+		if (!glob_syms_match(sym_name, linker, glob_sym, obj, sym, src_sym_idx, btf_id))
+			return -EINVAL;
+
+		dst_sym = get_sym_by_idx(linker, glob_sym->sym_idx);
+
+		/* If new symbol is strong, then force dst_sym to be strong as
+		 * well; this way a mix of weak and non-weak extern
+		 * definitions will end up being strong.
+		 */
+		if (sym_bind == STB_GLOBAL) {
+			/* We still need to preserve type (NOTYPE or
+			 * OBJECT/FUNC, depending on whether the symbol is
+			 * extern or not)
+			 */
+			sym_update_bind(dst_sym, STB_GLOBAL);
+			glob_sym->is_weak = false;
+		}
+
+		/* Non-default visibility is "contaminating", with stricter
+		 * visibility overwriting more permissive ones, even if more
+		 * permissive visibility comes from just an extern definition.
+		 * Currently only STV_DEFAULT and STV_HIDDEN are allowed and
+		 * ensured by ELF symbol sanity checks above.
+		 */
+		if (sym_vis > ELF64_ST_VISIBILITY(dst_sym->st_other))
+			sym_update_visibility(dst_sym, sym_vis);
+
+		/* If the new symbol is extern, then regardless if
+		 * existing symbol is extern or resolved global, just
+		 * keep the existing one untouched.
+		 */
+		if (sym_is_extern)
+			return 0;
+
+		/* If existing symbol is a strong resolved symbol, bail out,
+		 * because we lost resolution battle have nothing to
+		 * contribute. We already checked abover that there is no
+		 * strong-strong conflict. We also already tightened binding
+		 * and visibility, so nothing else to contribute at that point.
+		 */
+		if (!glob_sym->is_extern && sym_bind == STB_WEAK)
+			return 0;
+
+		/* At this point, new symbol is strong non-extern,
+		 * so overwrite glob_sym with new symbol information.
+		 * Preserve binding and visibility.
+		 */
+		sym_update_type(dst_sym, sym_type);
+		dst_sym->st_shndx = dst_sec->sec_idx;
+		dst_sym->st_value = src_sec->dst_off + sym->st_value;
 		dst_sym->st_size = sym->st_size;
 
-		obj->sym_map[i] = dst_sym_idx;
+		/* see comment below about dst_sec->id vs dst_sec->sec_idx */
+		glob_sym->sec_id = dst_sec->id;
+		glob_sym->is_extern = false;
 
-		if (ELF64_ST_TYPE(sym->st_info) == STT_SECTION && dst_sym) {
-			dst_sec->sec_sym_idx = dst_sym_idx;
-			dst_sym->st_value = 0;
-		}
+		if (complete_extern_btf_info(linker->btf, glob_sym->btf_id,
+					     obj->btf, btf_id))
+			return -EINVAL;
 
+		/* request updating VAR's/FUNC's underlying BTF type when appending BTF type */
+		glob_sym->underlying_btf_id = 0;
+
+		obj->sym_map[src_sym_idx] = glob_sym->sym_idx;
+		return 0;
+	}
+
+add_sym:
+	name_off = strset__add_str(linker->strtab_strs, sym_name);
+	if (name_off < 0)
+		return name_off;
+
+	dst_sym = add_new_sym(linker, &dst_sym_idx);
+	if (!dst_sym)
+		return -ENOMEM;
+
+	dst_sym->st_name = name_off;
+	dst_sym->st_info = sym->st_info;
+	dst_sym->st_other = sym->st_other;
+	dst_sym->st_shndx = dst_sec ? dst_sec->sec_idx : sym->st_shndx;
+	dst_sym->st_value = (src_sec ? src_sec->dst_off : 0) + sym->st_value;
+	dst_sym->st_size = sym->st_size;
+
+	obj->sym_map[src_sym_idx] = dst_sym_idx;
+
+	if (sym_type == STT_SECTION && dst_sym) {
+		dst_sec->sec_sym_idx = dst_sym_idx;
+		dst_sym->st_value = 0;
+	}
+
+	if (sym_bind != STB_LOCAL) {
+		glob_sym = add_glob_sym(linker);
+		if (!glob_sym)
+			return -ENOMEM;
+
+		glob_sym->sym_idx = dst_sym_idx;
+		/* we use dst_sec->id (and not dst_sec->sec_idx), because
+		 * ephemeral sections (.kconfig, .ksyms, etc) don't have
+		 * sec_idx (as they don't have corresponding ELF section), but
+		 * still have id. .extern doesn't have even ephemeral section
+		 * associated with it, so dst_sec->id == dst_sec->sec_idx == 0.
+		 */
+		glob_sym->sec_id = dst_sec ? dst_sec->id : 0;
+		glob_sym->name_off = name_off;
+		/* we will fill btf_id in during BTF merging step */
+		glob_sym->btf_id = 0;
+		glob_sym->is_extern = sym_is_extern;
+		glob_sym->is_weak = sym_bind == STB_WEAK;
 	}
 
 	return 0;
@@ -1262,7 +1894,7 @@ static int linker_append_elf_relos(struct bpf_linker *linker, struct src_obj *ob
 		dst_sec->shdr->sh_info = dst_linked_sec->sec_idx;
 
 		src_sec->dst_id = dst_sec->id;
-		err = extend_sec(dst_sec, src_sec);
+		err = extend_sec(linker, dst_sec, src_sec);
 		if (err)
 			return err;
 
@@ -1315,21 +1947,6 @@ static int linker_append_elf_relos(struct bpf_linker *linker, struct src_obj *ob
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static struct src_sec *find_src_sec_by_name(struct src_obj *obj, const char *sec_name)
-{
-	struct src_sec *sec;
-	int i;
-
-	for (i = 1; i < obj->sec_cnt; i++) {
-		sec = &obj->secs[i];
-
-		if (strcmp(sec->sec_name, sec_name) == 0)
-			return sec;
-	}
-
-	return NULL;
-}
-
 static Elf64_Sym *find_sym_by_name(struct src_obj *obj, size_t sec_idx,
 				   int sym_type, const char *sym_name)
 {
@@ -1384,12 +2001,32 @@ static int linker_fixup_btf(struct src_obj *obj)
 				t->size = sec->shdr->sh_size;
 		} else {
 			/* BTF can have some sections that are not represented
-			 * in ELF, e.g., .kconfig and .ksyms, which are used
-			 * for special extern variables.  Here we'll
-			 * pre-create "section shells" for them to be able to
-			 * keep track of extra per-section metadata later
-			 * (e.g., BTF variables).
+			 * in ELF, e.g., .kconfig, .ksyms, .extern, which are used
+			 * for special extern variables.
+			 *
+			 * For all but one such special (ephemeral)
+			 * sections, we pre-create "section shells" to be able
+			 * to keep track of extra per-section metadata later
+			 * (e.g., those BTF extern variables).
+			 *
+			 * .extern is even more special, though, because it
+			 * contains extern variables that need to be resolved
+			 * by static linker, not libbpf and kernel. When such
+			 * externs are resolved, we are going to remove them
+			 * from .extern BTF section and might end up not
+			 * needing it at all. Each resolved extern should have
+			 * matching non-extern VAR/FUNC in other sections.
+			 *
+			 * We do support leaving some of the externs
+			 * unresolved, though, to support cases of building
+			 * libraries, which will later be linked against final
+			 * BPF applications. So if at finalization we still
+			 * see unresolved externs, we'll create .extern
+			 * section on our own.
 			 */
+			if (strcmp(sec_name, BTF_EXTERN_SEC) == 0)
+				continue;
+
 			sec = add_src_sec(obj, sec_name);
 			if (!sec)
 				return -ENOMEM;
@@ -1446,6 +2083,7 @@ static int linker_append_btf(struct bpf_linker *linker, struct src_obj *obj)
 {
 	const struct btf_type *t;
 	int i, j, n, start_id, id;
+	const char *name;
 
 	if (!obj->btf)
 		return 0;
@@ -1458,12 +2096,44 @@ static int linker_append_btf(struct bpf_linker *linker, struct src_obj *obj)
 		return -ENOMEM;
 
 	for (i = 1; i <= n; i++) {
+		struct glob_sym *glob_sym = NULL;
+
 		t = btf__type_by_id(obj->btf, i);
 
 		/* DATASECs are handled specially below */
 		if (btf_kind(t) == BTF_KIND_DATASEC)
 			continue;
 
+		if (btf_is_non_static(t)) {
+			/* there should be glob_sym already */
+			name = btf__str_by_offset(obj->btf, t->name_off);
+			glob_sym = find_glob_sym(linker, name);
+
+			/* VARs without corresponding glob_sym are those that
+			 * belong to skipped/deduplicated sections (i.e.,
+			 * license and version), so just skip them
+			 */
+			if (!glob_sym)
+				continue;
+
+			/* linker_append_elf_sym() might have requested
+			 * updating underlying type ID, if extern was resolved
+			 * to strong symbol or weak got upgraded to non-weak
+			 */
+			if (glob_sym->underlying_btf_id == 0)
+				glob_sym->underlying_btf_id = -t->type;
+
+			/* globals from previous object files that match our
+			 * VAR/FUNC already have a corresponding associated
+			 * BTF type, so just make sure to use it
+			 */
+			if (glob_sym->btf_id) {
+				/* reuse existing BTF type for global var/func */
+				obj->btf_type_map[i] = glob_sym->btf_id;
+				continue;
+			}
+		}
+
 		id = btf__add_type(linker->btf, obj->btf, t);
 		if (id < 0) {
 			pr_warn("failed to append BTF type #%d from file '%s'\n", i, obj->filename);
@@ -1471,6 +2141,12 @@ static int linker_append_btf(struct bpf_linker *linker, struct src_obj *obj)
 		}
 
 		obj->btf_type_map[i] = id;
+
+		/* record just appended BTF type for var/func */
+		if (glob_sym) {
+			glob_sym->btf_id = id;
+			glob_sym->underlying_btf_id = -t->type;
+		}
 	}
 
 	/* remap all the types except DATASECs */
@@ -1482,6 +2158,22 @@ static int linker_append_btf(struct bpf_linker *linker, struct src_obj *obj)
 			return -EINVAL;
 	}
 
+	/* Rewrite VAR/FUNC underlying types (i.e., FUNC's FUNC_PROTO and VAR's
+	 * actual type), if necessary
+	 */
+	for (i = 0; i < linker->glob_sym_cnt; i++) {
+		struct glob_sym *glob_sym = &linker->glob_syms[i];
+		struct btf_type *glob_t;
+
+		if (glob_sym->underlying_btf_id >= 0)
+			continue;
+
+		glob_sym->underlying_btf_id = obj->btf_type_map[-glob_sym->underlying_btf_id];
+
+		glob_t = btf_type_by_id(linker->btf, glob_sym->btf_id);
+		glob_t->type = glob_sym->underlying_btf_id;
+	}
+
 	/* append DATASEC info */
 	for (i = 1; i < obj->sec_cnt; i++) {
 		struct src_sec *src_sec;
@@ -1509,6 +2201,42 @@ static int linker_append_btf(struct bpf_linker *linker, struct src_obj *obj)
 		n = btf_vlen(t);
 		for (j = 0; j < n; j++, src_var++) {
 			void *sec_vars = dst_sec->sec_vars;
+			int new_id = obj->btf_type_map[src_var->type];
+			struct glob_sym *glob_sym = NULL;
+
+			t = btf_type_by_id(linker->btf, new_id);
+			if (btf_is_non_static(t)) {
+				name = btf__str_by_offset(linker->btf, t->name_off);
+				glob_sym = find_glob_sym(linker, name);
+				if (glob_sym->sec_id != dst_sec->id) {
+					pr_warn("global '%s': section mismatch %d vs %d\n",
+						name, glob_sym->sec_id, dst_sec->id);
+					return -EINVAL;
+				}
+			}
+
+			/* If there is already a member (VAR or FUNC) mapped
+			 * to the same type, don't add a duplicate entry.
+			 * This will happen when multiple object files define
+			 * the same extern VARs/FUNCs.
+			 */
+			if (glob_sym && glob_sym->var_idx >= 0) {
+				__s64 sz;
+
+				dst_var = &dst_sec->sec_vars[glob_sym->var_idx];
+				/* Because underlying BTF type might have
+				 * changed, so might its size have changed, so
+				 * re-calculate and update it in sec_var.
+				 */
+				sz = btf__resolve_size(linker->btf, glob_sym->underlying_btf_id);
+				if (sz < 0) {
+					pr_warn("global '%s': failed to resolve size of underlying type: %d\n",
+						name, (int)sz);
+					return -EINVAL;
+				}
+				dst_var->size = sz;
+				continue;
+			}
 
 			sec_vars = libbpf_reallocarray(sec_vars,
 						       dst_sec->sec_var_cnt + 1,
@@ -1523,6 +2251,9 @@ static int linker_append_btf(struct bpf_linker *linker, struct src_obj *obj)
 			dst_var->type = obj->btf_type_map[src_var->type];
 			dst_var->size = src_var->size;
 			dst_var->offset = src_sec->dst_off + src_var->offset;
+
+			if (glob_sym)
+				glob_sym->var_idx = dst_sec->sec_var_cnt - 1;
 		}
 	}