What is difference between an i386 rpm and an i686 rpm package?
 

Hi Folks !

Just a basic question.
What is the difference between an i386 rpm package and an i686 rpm package.

Eg : openssl-0.9.8b-8.i386.rpm seems to be exactly equal to openssl-0.9.8b-8.i686.rpm.

If check on my FC6 I am not able to make out whether the i386 / i686 version of openssl is installed, through the rpm -qai openssl command.

Please advice

Thanks and regards,
Rajat

The i686 rpm should have been compiled with i686 optimisations enabled. In theory this should make it run slightly faster, although in practical terms it's unlikely there'll be any significant difference. Pre-686 CPUs may not be able to run binaries compiled for i686. This Wikipedia page might help if you're wondering whether your CPU is a 686 or not (all "modern" x86 CPUs are).

Gethyn,

Thanks for the explanation. Now, I see that i686 rpms are the one suited for my machine ( Pentium 4 ).

Thanks,
Rajat