[opensuse] Questions on 32-bit v. 64-bit
Hi guys, When I install openSUSE, how does it know whether it should install a 32-bit kernel or a 64-bit kernel? Does any part of the installation reflect that? The complication arises when the system originally has 2GB RAM but will later on be increased to 8GB RAM. If the installed kernel had been 32-bit, is it possible to upgrade the whole installation to 64-bit to support the increase in RAM? Let's take for example the Xeon 5130 processor. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
Hi,
I think that if you are sure about the architecture and the
installation Media, then go for 64bit. However I would PERSONALLY say
that do not try to go for 64 bit unless you are very sure about the
installation disk or architecture.
However, I have heard (though not tested it myself) that upgrading to
64 bit LATER ON may create complications.
On Nov 21, 2007 7:07 PM, Chee How Chua
Hi guys,
When I install openSUSE, how does it know whether it should install a 32-bit kernel or a 64-bit kernel?
Does any part of the installation reflect that?
The complication arises when the system originally has 2GB RAM but will later on be increased to 8GB RAM.
If the installed kernel had been 32-bit, is it possible to upgrade the whole installation to 64-bit to support the increase in RAM?
Let's take for example the Xeon 5130 processor. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
-- There are 10 kinds of people in the world - those who understand binary ... and those who don't! -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Дана среда 21 новембар 2007, Chee How Chua је написао(ла):
Hi guys,
When I install openSUSE, how does it know whether it should install a 32-bit kernel or a 64-bit kernel?
If you downloaded 64bit CD or DVD it will install 64bit kernel as well as 64bit applications with some 32bit packages (mostly libraries for supporting 32bit-only applications such as flash plugin).
The complication arises when the system originally has 2GB RAM but will later on be increased to 8GB RAM.
Nice :) I want 8GB RAM :)
If the installed kernel had been 32-bit, is it possible to upgrade the whole installation to 64-bit to support the increase in RAM?
In short: no.
In longer answer: maybe you could change the master architecture
in /etc/zypper/* and install tons of packages over the running system and
then reboot into 64bit, but I don't think that would be a smart idea. It is
much better to backup whatever configuration files you have (assuming you
have /home in a separate partition which is a sane choice), wipe your root
partition and install 64bit openSUSE.
- --
Filip Brcic
On Wed, 21 Nov 2007 21:37:09 +0800
"Chee How Chua"
Hi guys,
When I install openSUSE, how does it know whether it should install a 32-bit kernel or a 64-bit kernel?
Does any part of the installation reflect that? 'uname -a' will show you whether you have a 32-bit or 64-bit kernel. The 64-bit kernel should show up as "x86_64" where a 32-bit kernel will show up as i386 (and possibly the CPU type, such as athalon).
The complication arises when the system originally has 2GB RAM but will later on be increased to 8GB RAM.
If the installed kernel had been 32-bit, is it possible to upgrade the whole installation to 64-bit to support the increase in RAM?
Upgrading from a 32-bit system to a 64-bit system is dangerous. The
x86_64 architecture supports 32-bit, but you need a kernel that
supports the 32-bit environment (Linux does) and a set of libraries for
both 32-bit and 64-bit. You are much better doing a clean install of a
64-bit system when you can schedule it, then when you upgrade to 8GB
your kernel will support it.
--
Jerry Feldman
participants (4)
-
Chee How Chua -
Filip Brcic -
Jerry Feldman -
Vaibhav Kaushal