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Xi0N

Member

From: Bilbao - Spain

Registered: 2007-11-29

Posts: 832

Website

64bit How difficult is it?

I tryed to install Ubuntu 64 bit in the past (before changing to arch) and it allways has been really difficult and annoying to find the software in 64bit edition and to emulate the 32 bit subsystem to run the applications that are unavailable in 64 bit......

I wish i could use the 64 bit capabilities of my computer, so i wanted to ask: Is it worth to try it with arch? I can see the 64 bit packages are far better supported in arch than in Ubuntu, and that they get updated almost in the same time than the ones of the 32 bit architecture.

Which is your oppinion?

Thanks!

Last edited by Xi0N (2008-12-18 10:47:24)

TigTex

Member

From: Portugal

Registered: 2008-06-19

Posts: 301

Re: 64bit How difficult is it?

I've installed arch64 2 weeks ago on my core 2 duo t9400 and everything is working just fine with an incredible performance. Almost every package is x86_64 capable and works out of the box and if there's some package that you don't find, AUR should have it.

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.::. TigTex @ Portugal .::.

borix

Member

Registered: 2007-12-01

Posts: 17

Re: 64bit How difficult is it?

There are still some problems but it's getting better(java for 64bit, flash for 64bit).
But you can still have some problems(and you most probably will have some problems) with commercial (and closed-source) applications.

agapito

Member

From: Who cares.

Registered: 2008-11-13

Posts: 703

Re: 64bit How difficult is it?

My main problem is wine and Google Earth. I don't want install  any 32 bits libraries on my 64 bits system because performance sucks.

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dhave

Arch Linux f@h Team Member

From: Outside the matrix.

Registered: 2005-05-15

Posts: 1,112

Re: 64bit How difficult is it?

My main problem is wine and Google Earth. I don't want install  any 32 bits libraries on my 64 bits system because performance sucks.

I was under the impression that, for most applications, the performance difference between 32-bit and 64-bit is negligible.

I went with a 32-bit chrooted subsystem on my Arch64 system, and, while that has worked well, I've finally permitted some 32-bit libraries to co-exist on my main 64-bit system. I was trying to be a purist, but the relative ease of installing and using 32-bit apps -- and I have only a few -- outweighs any other reasons I can think of for not installing a few 32-bit libs on a 64-bit system.

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thomasknowles

Member

From: England

Registered: 2008-11-23

Posts: 38

Re: 64bit How difficult is it?

64-but user here, I'm in the same boat as dhave, a few 32-bit libs and applications but the general performance increase is worth it. With Flash being released with native 64-bit support was a big big help for me.

pyther

Member

Registered: 2008-01-21

Posts: 1,395

Website

Re: 64bit How difficult is it?

There are still some problems but it's getting better(java for 64bit, flash for 64bit).
But you can still have some problems(and you most probably will have some problems) with commercial (and closed-source) applications.

There is no problem with flash 64bit, it works just great!

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Xi0N

Member

From: Bilbao - Spain

Registered: 2007-11-29

Posts: 832

Website

Re: 64bit How difficult is it?

Any difficulty on setting it up?

Ranguvar

Member

Registered: 2008-08-12

Posts: 2,577

Re: 64bit How difficult is it?

Not really at all. You might run into one or two oddities, but overall you shouldn't even notice the difference in that regard. And once you do run into a problem for whatever reason, solving it will increase your Linux knowledge. Seriously, I haven't found a single better method for learning Linux than being brave and trying stuff, and then learning how to fix the stuff that you break.

dolby

Member

From: 1992

Registered: 2006-08-08

Posts: 1,581

Re: 64bit How difficult is it?

Which applications still need 32bit compatibility libs?

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skottish

Forum Fellow

From: Here

Registered: 2006-06-16

Posts: 7,942

Re: 64bit How difficult is it?

Which applications still need 32bit compatibility libs?

Wine, Skype, and Lightscribe with supporting libraries, come to mind.

Berticus

Member

Registered: 2008-06-11

Posts: 731

Re: 64bit How difficult is it?

Which applications still need 32bit compatibility libs?

Wine, Skype, and Lightscribe with supporting libraries, come to mind.

You can use lightscribe? I thought that was only supported in Ubuntu (or Debian based OS)... From what I hear Skype is exploring the 64-bit area. However it's currently only available to Ubuntu users, or any Debian based OS I guess (deb package).

Unfortunately I don't remember the link... But it was like Skype 2.x 64-bit Linux beta. It wasn't like an unofficial port or anything since the domain name skype.com

skottish

Forum Fellow

From: Here

Registered: 2006-06-16

Posts: 7,942

Re: 64bit How difficult is it?

Which applications still need 32bit compatibility libs?

Wine, Skype, and Lightscribe with supporting libraries, come to mind.

You can use lightscribe? I thought that was only supported in Ubuntu (or Debian based OS)... From what I hear Skype is exploring the 64-bit area. However it's currently only available to Ubuntu users, or any Debian based OS I guess (deb package).

Unfortunately I don't remember the link... But it was like Skype 2.x 64-bit Linux beta. It wasn't like an unofficial port or anything since the domain name skype.com

Yes, Lightscribe has been working in Arch for a long time. In fact, I had it working on 64 bit before. You just need some lib32 or bin32 stuff.

ssl6

Member

From: Ottawa, ON, CA

Registered: 2007-08-30

Posts: 594

Re: 64bit How difficult is it?

im running 64bit as well, never had too many problems in comparison to the 32bit that i ran on my laptop. but now with flash being released for 64bit, that made things easier. i think imusing icedtea for java and webplugin, though im sure thats outdated, haven't really bothered replacing it with anything newer since im not having problems.

aside from that, wine is the biggest issue, and i also did manage to get a couple native linux games running, doom3, and quake4, eduke for my retro gaming, havent found a good doom port

compared to when i first started running 64bit, i had to use gnash for a flash replacement, which didn't always work, never had a java plugin then, or it was difficult, now the difference is almost transparent, to me at least. theres still the few things others mentioned here. i still consider my self a new when it comes to linux, but i've managed alright, its everyday learning for me. and i bookmarked all the questions i got answers to on the forum, which has helped when i did reinstalls, didn't have to ask teh same questions twice

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skottish

Forum Fellow

From: Here

Registered: 2006-06-16

Posts: 7,942

Re: 64bit How difficult is it?

Most things are coming along nicely in 64 bit. Wine will remain a factor for a while seeing that 64 bit Wine will not be able to run 32 bit binaries. It's easy enough to set up though.

iBertus

Member

From: Greenville, NC

Registered: 2004-11-04

Posts: 2,228

Re: 64bit How difficult is it?

OP, when did you last try 64-bit linux? The differences are minimal now, with many of the previous issues like flash and java now solved by the upsteam vendors. Also, lib32 stuff should have no effect on the performance of the system. There isn't anything wrong with using 32-bit libs when needed. Most things don't really benefit from being 64-bit anyway.

archlinuxsagi

Member

Registered: 2008-09-12

Posts: 259

Re: 64bit How difficult is it?

Which applications still need 32bit compatibility libs?

Wine, Skype, and Lightscribe with supporting libraries, come to mind.

I thought wine can be run on 64 bit already? Please refer to the URL.
http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=n … &px=NjkwNg

iBertus

Member

From: Greenville, NC

Registered: 2004-11-04

Posts: 2,228

Re: 64bit How difficult is it?

Which applications still need 32bit compatibility libs?

Wine, Skype, and Lightscribe with supporting libraries, come to mind.

I thought wine can be run on 64 bit already? Please refer to the URL.
http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=n … &px=NjkwNg

I think it's being fixed, but is still somewhat buggy.

elmer_42

Member

From: /na/usa/ca

Registered: 2008-10-11

Posts: 427

Re: 64bit How difficult is it?

I thought wine can be run on 64 bit already? Please refer to the URL.
http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=n … &px=NjkwNg

The problem with 64 bit Wine, as stated above, is that it cannot run 32 bit binaries.

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skottish

Forum Fellow

From: Here

Registered: 2006-06-16

Posts: 7,942

Re: 64bit How difficult is it?

Which applications still need 32bit compatibility libs?

Wine, Skype, and Lightscribe with supporting libraries, come to mind.

I thought wine can be run on 64 bit already? Please refer to the URL.
http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=n … &px=NjkwNg

In order to run a 32 bit binary, you're going to need every other 32 bit library that that binary was built against, or a substitute for those libraries. It's not a question of what Wine can or can't do, it's simply a question of how the application was built. 64 bit Wine is intended to run 64 bit Windows applications, much like 32 bit Wine is to run 32 bit applications.

archlinuxsagi

Member

Registered: 2008-09-12

Posts: 259

Re: 64bit How difficult is it?

In order to run a 32 bit binary, you're going to need every other 32 bit library that that binary was built against, or a substitute for those libraries. It's not a question of what Wine can or can't do, it's simply a question of how the application was built. 64 bit Wine is intended to run 64 bit Windows applications, much like 32 bit Wine is to run 32 bit applications.

OOoh. IC. I forget about the 64 bit Windows application part. Too excited when wine says they can run 64-bit. Hehe.:D

Xi0N

Member

From: Bilbao - Spain

Registered: 2007-11-29

Posts: 832

Website

Re: 64bit How difficult is it?

OK, so i will try a fresh 64bit install now...

Thanks, really, you encouraged me for trying this on..

I will tell you my impressions once i have finished reinstalling all

Cheers!!!!

Xi0N

Member

From: Bilbao - Spain

Registered: 2007-11-29

Posts: 832

Website

Re: 64bit How difficult is it?

Wait: One ast question that comes to my mind....
I use this package from aur: http://aur.archlinux.org/packages.php?ID=9753

Is this one valid for 64 bits as well? If not, what to do?

Last edited by Xi0N (2008-12-18 22:50:19)

skottish

Forum Fellow

From: Here

Registered: 2006-06-16

Posts: 7,942

Re: 64bit How difficult is it?

Wait: One ast question that comes to my mind....
I use this package from aur: http://aur.archlinux.org/packages.php?ID=9753

Is this one valid for 64 bits as well? If not, what to do?

Whoops. I deleted my post. An then I posted something silly. HELP!!!

Anyway, it looks like it from here. I don't use it though, so I can't help there. You can always look at the package build from AUR to see if x86_64 is listed.

Xyne

Forum Fellow

Registered: 2008-08-03

Posts: 6,965

Website

Re: 64bit How difficult is it?

The PKGBUILD contains this line which indicates that it should build on x86_64:

arch=('i686' 'x86_64')

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