Compiling errors with Zlib

Hello, I am trying to compile openssh-3.6.1p1 on my Redhat 6.2 box (alpha) using gcc version egcs-2.91.66 19990314/Linux (egcs-1.1.2 release). I am experiencing the seemingly common error: configure: error: *** zlib missing - please install first or check config.log ***

Here is the configure statement that I am using:

./configure --prefix=/usr/local --with-ssl-dir=/usr/local/ssl/
--disable-suid-ssh --with-privsep-user=sshd --with-cppflags
--with-zlib=/usr/local/lib --with-libs="-ltinfo -lm"

All libraries are in the noted directories, openssl has been compiled with zlib 1.1.4 support. Here's what config.log says:

configure:5690: checking for deflate in -lz configure:5742: gcc -o conftest -g -O2 -Wall -Wpointer-arith -Wno-uninitialized -I/usr/local/lib yes -L/usr/local/lib -L/usr/local/lib -R/usr/local/lib conftest.c -lz -ltinfo -lm >&5 gcc: yes: No such file or directory
gcc: unrecognized option `-R/usr/local/lib' configure:5742: $? = 1
configure: failed program was:
#line 5742 "configure"
#include "confdefs.h"

/* Override any gcc2 internal prototype to avoid an error. */
#ifdef __cplusplus

extern "C"
#endif

/* We use char because int might match the return type of a gcc2

   builtin and then its argument prototype would still apply. */ char deflate ();
#ifdef F77_DUMMY_MAIN
# ifdef __cplusplus

     extern "C"
# endif

   int F77_DUMMY_MAIN() { return 1; }
#endif

int
main ()
{
deflate ();
  ;
  return 0;
}
configure:5743: result: no
configure:5756: error: *** zlib missing - please install first or check config.log ***

Do you need help?

In addition to our free technical library, Pantek provides professional IT services to companies who utilize Open Source software: Learn more about Pantek's Technical Support offerings Place an order for 24/7/365 Technical Support here Learn more about Pantek, who we are, and what we do Chat with a Live Operator Related securityfocus.com Links bugtraq certification focus-bsd focus-ids focus-ih focus-linux focus-ms focus-sun focus-unix-other focus-virus forensics incidents libnet linux-secnews ms-secnews pen-test secpapers secprog sectools secureshell security-basics securityjobs sf-news vuln-dev webappsec Request more information about Pantek

I am thinkin that my gcc version is obsolete. Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks

-- 
-Paul Pasika                                     Petabit.net Administrator
-paulpas@petabit.net                             "Insert quote here"  - Me