Linux - DistributionsThis forum is for Distribution specific questions.
Red Hat, Slackware, Debian, Novell, LFS, Mandriva, Ubuntu, Fedora - the list goes on and on...
Note: An (*) indicates there is no official participation from that distribution here at LQ.
Notices
Welcome to LinuxQuestions.org, a friendly and active Linux Community.
You are currently viewing LQ as a guest. By joining our community you will have the ability to post topics, receive our newsletter, use the advanced search, subscribe to threads and access many other special features. Registration is quick, simple and absolutely free. Join our community today!
Note that registered members see fewer ads, and ContentLink is completely disabled once you log in.
If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us. If you need to reset your password, click here.
Having a problem logging in? Please visit this page to clear all LQ-related cookies.
Get a virtual cloud desktop with the Linux distro that you want in less than five minutes with Shells! With over 10 pre-installed distros to choose from, the worry-free installation life is here! Whether you are a digital nomad or just looking for flexibility, Shells can put your Linux machine on the device that you want to use.
Exclusive for LQ members, get up to 45% off per month. Click here for more info.
2. Do I have to install a specific version of the compatible distro? I mean as in i386, i686, x86, etc.
No, just as 16-bit ms-dos will run on a 32-bit machine, so will 32-bit linux versions run on a 64-bit machine. The problem is that you would be wasting the extra power of your new processor by not using a 64-bit optimized distribution.
Quote:
3. Once I have the distribution installed, how do I know what apps are 64bit compatible? or will 32bit apps work on a 64bit OS installation?
For the NetBSD (my current OS) it is not a concern because almost everything can be built from source (see http://www.netbsd.org/Ports/amd64/). The upcoming debian AMD-64 port is planned to support legacy 32-bit applications - http://www.debian.org/ports/amd64/ - but I am uncertain if that will apply universally to other distros.
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing
Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute
content, let us know.