Inquiry about /lib64 and /lib

R00KIE · 2009-06-05 20:24:36

I'm planning my definitive move to arch64, but before I do so I am making sure I don't stumble upon something that doesn't work (and that I can't compile from source).

While testing matlab install I was graced with something like "....: /lib64/libc.so.6: No such file or directory" as someone else experienced before http://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=31291

I went to see what was inside /lib64 and there are only two symlinks there that point to the respective files inside /lib. I did what one shouldn't do (the system is still a test subject, using ext3, I'm considering the switch to ext4 so I didn't care that much) and deleted /lib64 and created a symlink to /lib and the matlab install went flawlessly (also worked flawlessly afterwards, no problems about java whatsoever as it used to happen just in case anyone wonders about that).

What I would like to know is if there is any reason for /lib64 to have just two symlinks inside (that point to files inside /lib already) instead of being a symlink to /lib or if it is just legacy stuff that no one bothered to change because there are more important things to deal with.
Also if I create the symlink /lib64 -> /lib is it expected to break something later on or is it quite safe? It should be safe as /lib64 is almost empty but better ask than to have a big headache later

Thanks in advance.

Kilz · 2009-06-05 22:44:20

IMHO the reason is general insanity.

Last edited by Kilz (2009-06-05 22:48:03)

SiC · 2009-06-16 23:22:37

Which version of Matlab are you using?

I have had 2008a running on my machine for a year, the Uni have just upgraded to 2009a ( got my shiny new disks yesterday :D ) and installed that without any problems, my lib64 folder is the same as yours was.

R00KIE · 2009-06-17 00:04:23

Matlab 2009a and it stopped complaining as soon as I renamed the original directory and made a symlink to /lib (I have made the switch to 64bit already and I have renamed the directory instead of deleting it, just in case I need it later).

As far as I could tell things are the way they are because that's Arch's philosophy, fine with me, I like arch and it's not that that is making me run away from it
As long as I don't break anything by doing what I did then I'm happy

Oh by the way, is it just me or the whole matlab interface is a bit on the slow and heavy side?

Arch Linux

#1 2009-06-05 20:24:36

Inquiry about /lib64 and /lib

#2 2009-06-05 22:44:20

Re: Inquiry about /lib64 and /lib

#3 2009-06-16 23:22:37

Re: Inquiry about /lib64 and /lib

#4 2009-06-17 00:04:23

Re: Inquiry about /lib64 and /lib

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