[nzlug] 64 bit distros

[Daniel Pittman]

"Dirk Pilat" <pilatdirk at mac.com> writes:

> with the motherboard of my gaming machine in the shed being ruined in
> a rather embarassing fashion, I now have a new Mobo (a rather weird
> 754/939 either/or combo thingie) and just today had a new Processor
> delivered (Athlon 64).
>
> Can I just ask the collective hive brain of this mailinglist whether
> any of you had any problems with the 64-bit distros out there? I know
> that there is a Firefox/Flash issue that has been around, but apart
> from that, any problems???

The various RPM distributions, no real problems.  You can't use 32-bit
plugins on a 64-bit tool and vice-versa -- so, like Firefox, you may run
into other issues with binary only code.

Other than that, nothing.  The RPM tools are good at installing
concurrent 32 and 64 bit versions of libraries, so everything should
"just work" including most 32-bit only binary software.

> ...or would the recommendation be to stick with a 32 bit Distro?

If you want to use a Debian related distribution -- one that is dpkg
based -- you will not have quite the same luxury.  dpkg doesn't yet cope
so well with trying to install 32 and 64 bit versions of the same
package.

So, while there exist some 32-bit compatibility library packages you
kind of need a 32-bit only chroot built up if you want to run some of
the 32-bit binary only software out there.

Of course, setting up such a chroot is a matter of running one command,
so not exactly a difficult task. ;)


In terms of Open Source software and performance it is pretty much a
wash.

Regards,
        Daniel
-- 
Digital Infrastructure Solutions -- making IT simple, stable and secure
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