On 13/08/07, joe <joe@tmsusa.com> wrote:
Philipp Thomas wrote:
On Sun, 12 Aug 2007 16:43:53 -0700, joe wrote:
You're much more likely to have success resolving any driver issues on the 32-bit install.
That's just not true! The only case where a 64 bit Linux can be a problem is when you need to use a binary only driver and the manufacturer doesn't supply it. My experience shows that open source drivers are mostly just as bad or good on a 32 bit Linux as they are on a 64 bit one.
Hence my statement about "3rd party drivers or programs", which you snipped.
I did say that linux64 is great for generic server roles on largish hardware, where you can do everything using what ships from the linux vendor, and where the hardware is big enough to benefit from the 64-bit OS.
So if a driver doesn't work under 64 bit Linux chances are very low it'll suddenly start to work as a 32 bit version.
Many vendors make only a 32-bit version of their linux offerings, or if they do make a 64-bit version, it's not well tested, and buggy. I speak from bitter experiences in the trenches, and can cite examples.
At least RPM supports multilib, meaning you can happily run 32- and 64-bit applications side-by-side. The binary driver situation is all the more reason to support vendors that have more enlightened driver policies. Or, failing that, those that can provide reliable 64-bit drivers (grudging lift of the hat to nVidia on this). -- Michel -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org