x86_64 packages on Pentium D 945: why?
 

Hi

Why installing SuSE 9.3 or SuSE 10.x on a PC with a Pentium D 945 I get installed as default the x86_64 instead of the i586/i686 packages?

Is the Pentium D 945 a 64 bit processor? Shouldn't it be a 32 bit processor?

Thanks
Enrico

If the x86_64 packages are working then you have a 64bit CPU. The Pentium D range has EM64T which translates to 64bit.

All late model Intel Pentium 4 processors feature a copy of AMD64
Pentium D was released when Intel already had EMT64 standard.


You wouldnt be able to install X86_64 packages unless you installed linux using an X86_64 Distro disc.

Once you install a X86_64 Distro any extra programs you install are X86_64 by default.

Can I install a X86_64 system and add then also a few 32 bits X86 packages (in the case that the X86_64 corresponding packages are not available)? Any experience? Does such a mixed system works well?

Thanks
Enrico

Yes yes you can

The Linux Kernel developers appear to be very proud the fluent ability to use x86 (32bit) packages.

Most noteably OpenOffice, Java and flash Firefox plugins are only available in 32bit packages.
you need 32bit as well as x86_64 X packages to use Nvidia Drivers.

But dont forget where ever possible x86_64 packages are better

Does such a mixed system works well?
Mostly yes since the 32bit and x86_64 programs work well together, some problem occur when you manually install programs from source of installing from rpm command

use yast whereever possible.

this has not much to do with kernel but the fact that suse 64-bit is a hybrid
it has /usr/lib (32-bit)
and /usr/lib64 (default 64-bit)
subsystems
If you want pure 64-bit, then simply uninstall (using Yast, don't try to delete folder as this will cause a lot of problems) 32-bit libs/apps

on 64-bit system kernel is 64-bit (you can't run 32-bit drivers)

not true

as i mentioned before thanks to 32-bit subsystem suse 64-bit will run 32-bit apps without any problem.

If the kernel wasnt involved SuSe wouldnt know how to use the lib (32bit) directory at all, it has to actually be able to launch those libraries and binaries.

The NVIDIA .bin compiler need 32bit libraries
your right you do still need to use the x86_64 drivers 32bit ones dont work

suse rpms dont need them though

Actually the different lib directories are managed by glibc, not the kernel. The only extra config option in the kernel is 32bit emulation which doesn't effect the OS built on top of it at all.

I've installed it plenty of times on pure 64bit Arch Linux and Frugalware without 32bit libs installed.