diff -r bf83c9f5d8c0 -r 91a1a4ae5d9a src/arch/alpha/system.hh
--- a/src/arch/alpha/system.hh	Fri Oct 12 09:43:50 2012 +0100
+++ b/src/arch/alpha/system.hh	Fri Oct 12 09:48:47 2012 +0100
@@ -59,8 +59,8 @@
     /**
      * Serialization stuff
      */
-    virtual void serialize(std::ostream &os);
-    virtual void unserialize(Checkpoint *cp, const std::string &section);
+    virtual void serializeSymtab(std::ostream &os);
+    virtual void unserializeSymtab(Checkpoint *cp, const std::string &section);
 
     /** Override startup() to provide a path to call setupFuncEvents()
      */
diff -r bf83c9f5d8c0 -r 91a1a4ae5d9a src/arch/alpha/system.cc
--- a/src/arch/alpha/system.cc	Fri Oct 12 09:43:50 2012 +0100
+++ b/src/arch/alpha/system.cc	Fri Oct 12 09:48:47 2012 +0100
@@ -218,17 +218,15 @@
 }
 
 void
-AlphaSystem::serialize(std::ostream &os)
+AlphaSystem::serializeSymtab(std::ostream &os)
 {
-    System::serialize(os);
     consoleSymtab->serialize("console_symtab", os);
     palSymtab->serialize("pal_symtab", os);
 }
 
 void
-AlphaSystem::unserialize(Checkpoint *cp, const std::string &section)
+AlphaSystem::unserializeSymtab(Checkpoint *cp, const std::string &section)
 {
-    System::unserialize(cp,section);
     consoleSymtab->unserialize("console_symtab", cp, section);
     palSymtab->unserialize("pal_symtab", cp, section);
 }
diff -r bf83c9f5d8c0 -r 91a1a4ae5d9a src/arch/mips/system.hh
--- a/src/arch/mips/system.hh	Fri Oct 12 09:43:50 2012 +0100
+++ b/src/arch/mips/system.hh	Fri Oct 12 09:48:47 2012 +0100
@@ -55,11 +55,6 @@
     virtual bool breakpoint();
 
   public:
-    /**
-     * Serialization stuff
-     */
-    virtual void serialize(std::ostream &os);
-    virtual void unserialize(Checkpoint *cp, const std::string &section);
 
     /**
      * Set the m5MipsAccess pointer in the console
diff -r bf83c9f5d8c0 -r 91a1a4ae5d9a src/arch/mips/system.cc
--- a/src/arch/mips/system.cc	Fri Oct 12 09:43:50 2012 +0100
+++ b/src/arch/mips/system.cc	Fri Oct 12 09:48:47 2012 +0100
@@ -67,19 +67,6 @@
     return 0;
 }
 
-void
-MipsSystem::serialize(std::ostream &os)
-{
-    System::serialize(os);
-}
-
-
-void
-MipsSystem::unserialize(Checkpoint *cp, const std::string &section)
-{
-    System::unserialize(cp,section);
-}
-
 MipsSystem *
 MipsSystemParams::create()
 {
diff -r bf83c9f5d8c0 -r 91a1a4ae5d9a src/arch/sparc/system.hh
--- a/src/arch/sparc/system.hh	Fri Oct 12 09:43:50 2012 +0100
+++ b/src/arch/sparc/system.hh	Fri Oct 12 09:48:47 2012 +0100
@@ -54,8 +54,8 @@
  * Serialization stuff
  */
   public:
-    virtual void serialize(std::ostream &os);
-    virtual void unserialize(Checkpoint *cp, const std::string &section);
+    virtual void serializeSymtab(std::ostream &os);
+    virtual void unserializeSymtab(Checkpoint *cp, const std::string &section);
 
     /** reset binary symbol table */
     SymbolTable *resetSymtab;
diff -r bf83c9f5d8c0 -r 91a1a4ae5d9a src/arch/sparc/system.cc
--- a/src/arch/sparc/system.cc	Fri Oct 12 09:43:50 2012 +0100
+++ b/src/arch/sparc/system.cc	Fri Oct 12 09:48:47 2012 +0100
@@ -177,9 +177,8 @@
 }
 
 void
-SparcSystem::serialize(std::ostream &os)
+SparcSystem::serializeSymtab(std::ostream &os)
 {
-    System::serialize(os);
     resetSymtab->serialize("reset_symtab", os);
     hypervisorSymtab->serialize("hypervisor_symtab", os);
     openbootSymtab->serialize("openboot_symtab", os);
@@ -190,9 +189,8 @@
 
 
 void
-SparcSystem::unserialize(Checkpoint *cp, const std::string &section)
+SparcSystem::unserializeSymtab(Checkpoint *cp, const std::string &section)
 {
-    System::unserialize(cp,section);
     resetSymtab->unserialize("reset_symtab", cp, section);
     hypervisorSymtab->unserialize("hypervisor_symtab", cp, section);
     openbootSymtab->unserialize("openboot_symtab", cp, section);
diff -r bf83c9f5d8c0 -r 91a1a4ae5d9a src/arch/x86/system.hh
--- a/src/arch/x86/system.hh	Fri Oct 12 09:43:50 2012 +0100
+++ b/src/arch/x86/system.hh	Fri Oct 12 09:48:47 2012 +0100
@@ -74,8 +74,6 @@
  * Serialization stuff
  */
   public:
-    void serialize(std::ostream &os);
-    void unserialize(Checkpoint *cp, const std::string &section);
 
     void initState();
 
diff -r bf83c9f5d8c0 -r 91a1a4ae5d9a src/arch/x86/system.cc
--- a/src/arch/x86/system.cc	Fri Oct 12 09:43:50 2012 +0100
+++ b/src/arch/x86/system.cc	Fri Oct 12 09:48:47 2012 +0100
@@ -388,19 +388,6 @@
     delete smbiosTable;
 }
 
-void
-X86System::serialize(std::ostream &os)
-{
-    System::serialize(os);
-}
-
-
-void
-X86System::unserialize(Checkpoint *cp, const std::string &section)
-{
-    System::unserialize(cp,section);
-}
-
 X86System *
 X86SystemParams::create()
 {
diff -r bf83c9f5d8c0 -r 91a1a4ae5d9a src/sim/system.hh
--- a/src/sim/system.hh	Fri Oct 12 09:43:50 2012 +0100
+++ b/src/sim/system.hh	Fri Oct 12 09:48:47 2012 +0100
@@ -403,6 +403,26 @@
     // For futex system call
     std::map<uint64_t, std::list<ThreadContext *> * > futexMap;
 
+  protected:
+
+    /**
+     * If needed, serialize additional symbol table entries for a
+     * specific subclass of this sytem. Currently this is used by
+     * Alpha and MIPS.
+     *
+     * @param os stream to serialize to
+     */
+    virtual void serializeSymtab(std::ostream &os) {}
+
+    /**
+     * If needed, unserialize additional symbol table entries for a
+     * specific subclass of this system.
+     *
+     * @param cp checkpoint to unserialize from
+     * @param section relevant section in the checkpoint
+     */
+    virtual void unserializeSymtab(Checkpoint *cp,
+                                   const std::string &section) {}
 
 };
 
diff -r bf83c9f5d8c0 -r 91a1a4ae5d9a src/sim/system.cc
--- a/src/sim/system.cc	Fri Oct 12 09:43:50 2012 +0100
+++ b/src/sim/system.cc	Fri Oct 12 09:48:47 2012 +0100
@@ -341,6 +341,7 @@
         kernelSymtab->serialize("kernel_symtab", os);
     SERIALIZE_SCALAR(pagePtr);
     SERIALIZE_SCALAR(nextPID);
+    serializeSymtab(os);
 }
 
 
@@ -351,6 +352,7 @@
         kernelSymtab->unserialize("kernel_symtab", cp, section);
     UNSERIALIZE_SCALAR(pagePtr);
     UNSERIALIZE_SCALAR(nextPID);
+    unserializeSymtab(cp, section);
 }
 
 void