pls help - what is kernal i386
 

im using Red Hat Linux 9 and my kernal is i 686 can i install i386 kernal sotware to my pc

Eg : boa-0.94.14-0.rc17.1.fr.i386.rpm

yes. but if you can find an i686 rpm, it should be more taylored for the newer intel processors.

do i have to install the UI file is it a must and DVD AVI codes

you have to install a UI frontend. the only real dvd library you need to install is libdvdcss. and you don't have to install codecs if you don't want to watch anything other than dvds.

hey friend can u tell me what is this i386 i486.... i686... what does this exactly mean....

That is architecture of your procesor...

x86 procesors, you know?
Most of new Intel procesors are i686, and the really old ones are i386...

I can't explain in great detail simply cause i don't know it my self...

hey killer_bunny thanx for the reply... but if u get to know more details about it plssss let know about it

I can explain it.
 

An RPM with the token "i386" denotes the fact that the software inside has been compiled for the i386 architecture, and will work on the i386 architectures and all i386-compatible architectures beyond that. The token "i686" denotes the fact that the software has been more aggressively compiled, and will only work on i686 architectures and newer. Some i686 processors include the K6 and the Pentium II.

As an aside, an RPM with the token "athlon" has been specifically compiled for the i686-compatible AMD Athlon processors, which means that it will only work on Athlon and newer processors.

hey TheOne KEA ... i need to know much more specifically ... that is i mean how can w categorise a particular processor into one of those categories of i386, i486... i686 and so on to get a clear picture...can u help me in that...

Are you wondering how to classify your particular processor (p'bly a 486, most are), or just for information/history's sake?

(--this is the summarized version, all copped from Wikipedia --)
The 80386 (aka i386) - first 32-bit processor (as far as I can tell - the i286 was a 16-bit). Intel released it in 1985, and it lived 'til the mid-90's. 32 bit, 16MHz.

The 80486 (i486) - 1989. 32 bit, 25MHz. Whoo-hoo - we're speeding now!

The 80586 (i586) - First to be called Pentium. 1993. 64 bit, 60 to 200 MHz versions cropped up.

The 80486DX came out in 1994, and this architecture is what the Pentium Pro, Pentium MMX, Pentium II, Celeron, Pentium III, Pentium 4, all the mobile processors, etc. They're still running with this one, as far as I know. "Penium" technically means an i586, but they kept the name for all the later processors for brand recognition.

IA-32 - Intel Architecture, 32 bit. Refers to the Intel 386 through the P4.
IA-64 - New 64 bit architecture, backwards compatible with the IA-32 and HP's PA-RISC.

As far as the i686, anyone know what the difference between it and the 486 is??

For reference's sake, and since I think AMD rocks quite a bit, the List of AMD microprocessors and their designations is here, too.

cheers!
Laura

thanx for the great answer.. you solved my question... thanx again and again

you're welcome! :)

Laura

Just the thread i was looking for ;)

I have an Athlon 2000+, and since athlon.rpm are more tailored for Athlon CPUs, so does it make a difference whether i install an athlon.rpm or i386.rpm?
i'm planning to try Wine and i'm not sure which one to download :D

With Wine, you might try both and see which one actually installs ;)
I'd say try the athlon package first, it might run a little better.

Thanks, Laura~
I will get right to it :D