Arch Linux

samwise

Member

From: Sydney, Australia

Registered: 2008-07-26

Posts: 53

Website

32 bit chroot vs multilib?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using a chroot vs using multilib for running 32 bit applications? What are people using? My system is pure 64 bit at the moment but I'd like to set up ndispluginwrapper + flash, and 32 bit wine.

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iBertus

Member

From: Greenville, NC

Registered: 2004-11-04

Posts: 2,228

Re: 32 bit chroot vs multilib?

I think multilib is easier with the lib32 packages. Setting up a full chroot is something I never did just because of the time required and my lack of need for a completely isolated 32-bit setup. I don't cross-compile things or run any apps that really mess up with just 64-bit libs. I'd say to just go with this if you need to run only a few 32-bit apps and don't do anything that requires the chroot.

skottish

Forum Fellow

From: Here

Registered: 2006-06-16

Posts: 7,942

Re: 32 bit chroot vs multilib?

This is what I have on my system. I can run Wine (with one more package that I forget), Flash 10 RC, Lightscribe (with 4l) and Skype (skype-staticqt):

lib32-alsa-lib lib32-atk lib32-cairo lib32-curl lib32-e2fsprogs lib32-expat lib32-fontconfig lib32-freetype2 lib32-gcc-libs lib32-glib2 lib32-glibc lib32-gnutls lib32-gtk2 lib32-libcups lib32-libgcrypt lib32-libgpg-error lib32-libice lib32-libjpeg lib32-libpng lib32-libsm lib32-libstdc++5 lib32-libtasn1 lib32-libtiff lib32-libx11 lib32-libxau lib32-libxcb lib32-libxcomposite lib32-libxcursor lib32-libxdamage lib32-libxdmcp lib32-libxext lib32-libxfixes lib32-libxft lib32-libxi lib32-libxinerama lib32-libxmu lib32-libxrandr lib32-libxrender lib32-libxss lib32-libxt lib32-libxv lib32-lzo2 lib32-ncurses lib32-nspr lib32-nss lib32-opencdk lib32-openssl lib32-pango lib32-pcre lib32-pixman lib32-readline lib32-sqlite3 lib32-zlib

I left it in one big line in case you wanted all of it and like to run yaourt.

danvari

Member

Registered: 2007-08-14

Posts: 44

Re: 32 bit chroot vs multilib?

to run 32bit apps and games you will only need lib32, if you want to compile 32bit apps (32bit .o support) then you will need a multilib system, like gentoo. though i have got some problems running my own 32bit games on arch64 i went back to gentoo...i am a distro jumper betwenn arch and gentoo ^^

Dheart

Member

From: Sofia, Bulgaria

Registered: 2006-10-26

Posts: 956

Re: 32 bit chroot vs multilib?

I'm using 32bit chroot for flash, wine and some games and IMO it's the cleaner approach and compiling 32 bit apps is really easy under the chroot...

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samwise

Member

From: Sydney, Australia

Registered: 2008-07-26

Posts: 53

Website

Re: 32 bit chroot vs multilib?

Thanks for the response.

to run 32bit apps and games you will only need lib32, if you want to compile 32bit apps (32bit .o support) then you will need a multilib system

I'm confused - isn't installing the lib32 packages what you do create a multilib system?

I'm using 32bit chroot for flash, wine and some games and IMO it's the cleaner approach and compiling 32 bit apps is really easy under the chroot...

Interesting, I sort of had the opposite impression. A chroot seems to me to break the filesystem heirachy. Do you run a 32 bit browser in the chroot?

I think I agree with iBertus, I only a few 32 bit odds and ends that would be nice, but aren't necessary. I've done cross compiling for ARM so I think I could sort it out if I ever needed to compile something for some strange reason. I'll go and check out the packages that skottish lists.

EDIT: Is it wise just to install the entire lib32 group?

Last edited by samwise (2008-09-19 10:28:29)

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"He was perfect except for the fact that he was an engineer"

archdave

Member

From: St. Louis, MO

Registered: 2008-02-26

Posts: 99

Website

Re: 32 bit chroot vs multilib?

http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Arc … _Arch64.3F

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Running GNU/Linux Arch (Core Dump) x86_64 on System Dell-a-zoid
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samwise

Member

From: Sydney, Australia

Registered: 2008-07-26

Posts: 53

Website

Re: 32 bit chroot vs multilib?

OK I installed all of the lib32 group except for the ATI and NVIDIA tools, and now have Total Annihilation running in wine...awesome.

Except for a few files in lib32-glibc, it all went into /opt/lib32. That's quite neat.

But I'm having a little more trouble with nspluginwrapper flash 10 beta. That package has SERIOUS dependancy issues. Why on earth does a video player need curl, openssl, nss, sqlite? Bah. I might just install flash player 9 for now even though it's flagged out of date.

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"He was perfect except for the fact that he was an engineer"

skottish

Forum Fellow

From: Here

Registered: 2006-06-16

Posts: 7,942

Re: 32 bit chroot vs multilib?

But I'm having a little more trouble with nspluginwrapper flash 10 beta. That package has SERIOUS dependancy issues. Why on earth does a video player need curl, openssl, nss, sqlite? Bah. I might just install flash player 9 for now even though it's flagged out of date.

Flash is having (or has already) P2P software being build into it, including VOIP functionality. The back end is now being developed by the Mozilla Foundation:

http://www.mozilla.org/projects/tamarin/

In fact, that's what's holding up 64 bit Flash. Unfortunately the Mozilla foundation has made little effort in the past towards 64 bit, but that's changing now. After that's fully working, the dependency thing won't matter much because almost everything there is standard libraries for most Linux systems running an X server and has Internet connectivity.

Last edited by skottish (2008-09-19 18:36:59)

dschauer

Member

Registered: 2008-02-28

Posts: 95

Re: 32 bit chroot vs multilib?

I was running lib32 stuff but recently switched to a chroot.
The filesystem is not broken, as /home in the chroot is bound to the non chroot /home.

Without the chroot I had to have bunch of AUR packages installed.

With the chroot, no AUR packages are needed.

In my opinion the chroot is a much cleaner environment.

I just followed the HOWTO from here:  http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Arc … bit_system

That HOWTO is a little outdated though. I skipped the stuff about sound as that is not necessary. (Firefox now uses alsa, etc).

Last edited by dschauer (2008-09-20 07:34:43)

Dheart

Member

From: Sofia, Bulgaria

Registered: 2006-10-26

Posts: 956

Re: 32 bit chroot vs multilib?

Flash with opera under the 32bit chroot running and games with wine...

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My victim you are meant to be
No, you cannot hide nor flee
You know what I'm looking for
Pleasure your torture, I will endure...

Berticus

Member

Registered: 2008-06-11

Posts: 731

Re: 32 bit chroot vs multilib?

I'm using 32bit chroot for flash, wine and some games and IMO it's the cleaner approach and compiling 32 bit apps is really easy under the chroot...

Did you have to install a 32-bit X for the games? I made a 32bit chroot just so I could play 32 bit games. I haven't gotten around to completely setting it up, but I thought it might've been more economical to just multilib.