Hello all,
I've been running Mint 16 32-bit from its birth up to now and I'm super happy. Unfortunately now, a lot of applications are not shipping anymore in the 32-bit flavor for Linux (e.g. Matlab) or most web application are now requiring me to update Chrome which is not shipped anymore as a 32-bit application. So I decided to move to the newest 64-bit Linux Mint.
Before going in that direction I want to know if there is a way to keep running some applications as 32-bit in order to avoid doubling my RAM consumption, which is a waste and one big downside of 64 bit binaries (in front of almost no improvement I must say). A friend told me that this is possible, so I'm asking how to:
- have a 64bit kernel and be able to run some apps as 64-bit binaries but run some others as 32-bit in order to prevent wasting too much RAM
Note: Please keep in mind that I'll be reformatting my root partition only and leave my /home partition unchanged, in order to keep most config files ready (when I reinstall a Linux system I just cat to a file all the apps installed and to an apt-get with all that apps, so that in a few hours everything is ready and the apps can find their config files in my home).
Cheers!!
moving from 32-bit to 64 but run some apps as 32-bit
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moving from 32-bit to 64 but run some apps as 32-bit
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- JoeFootball
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Re: moving from 32-bit to 64 but run some apps as 32-bit
Note that support for LM 16 ended nearly three years ago.leopard86 wrote:I've been running Mint 16 32-bit from its birth up to now ...
Did your friend mention how? I'm doubtful that you can have a 64-bit application running on a 64-bit kernel but force it to perform as if it were a 32-bit application.leopard86 wrote:A friend told me that this is possible ...
I believe there are ways to run 32-bit applications on a 64-bit kernel, but that would require installing additional support to do so. EDIT: For example.
Joe
Re: moving from 32-bit to 64 but run some apps as 32-bit
Yep, sorry I meant LM 17.
If I recall it correctly, I was told to recompile/get a 64-bit kernel only, use multiarch and pick the amd64 or i386 version of the packages depending if I want to run as 32 bit from the repo. This is quite similar to the solution you posted. My friend was referring to a generic debian-based system.
If I recall it correctly, I was told to recompile/get a 64-bit kernel only, use multiarch and pick the amd64 or i386 version of the packages depending if I want to run as 32 bit from the repo. This is quite similar to the solution you posted. My friend was referring to a generic debian-based system.
Re: moving from 32-bit to 64 but run some apps as 32-bit
By default, the latest versions of Linux Mint have multiarch enable by default. For example, I have a Linux Mint 18.1 64 bits but 32 bits support is activated.
You can check on your side, but it should be available. Therefore if you download the 32 bits version of an app, it should work fine (yes I am looking at you Skype... )
Now, regarding your RAM concerns. Going to 64 bits won't double your RAM usage. This is not true. There is a small overhead like 10 to 20% but not more. Except if you are really short on RAM, otherwise, it is always good to go with 64 bits.
I really think that customizing your system so that it uses only 32 bits softwares is clearly not worth it.
If you have really not enough RAM, you should not go 64 bits in the first place.
Code: Select all
KDB@KDB-N24-25JU ~ $ dpkg --print-foreign-architectures
i386
Now, regarding your RAM concerns. Going to 64 bits won't double your RAM usage. This is not true. There is a small overhead like 10 to 20% but not more. Except if you are really short on RAM, otherwise, it is always good to go with 64 bits.
I really think that customizing your system so that it uses only 32 bits softwares is clearly not worth it.
If you have really not enough RAM, you should not go 64 bits in the first place.
Re: moving from 32-bit to 64 but run some apps as 32-bit
Thank you!
I'm going to move to the 64-bit and report back any helpful finding, otherwise, thanks for the tips
I'm going to move to the 64-bit and report back any helpful finding, otherwise, thanks for the tips