19.0 32-Bit and 64-Bit Applications in a 64-Bit System Environment
SUSE® Linux Enterprise is available for several 64-bit platforms. This does not
necessarily mean that all the applications included have already been ported
to 64-bit platforms. SUSE Linux Enterprise supports the use of 32-bit applications in
a 64-bit system environment. This chapter offers a brief overview of how
this support is implemented on 64-bit SUSE Linux Enterprise platforms. It explains
how 32-bit applications are executed (runtime support) and how 32-bit
applications should be compiled to enable them to run both in 32-bit and
64-bit system environments. Additionally, find information about the kernel
API and an explanation of how 32-bit applications can run under a 64-bit
kernel.
NOTE: 31-Bit Applications on IBM System z:
s390 on IBM System z uses a 31-bit environment. References to 32-bit
applications in the following also apply to 31-bit applications.
SUSE Linux Enterprise for the 64-bit platforms ia64, ppc64, s390x, and
x86_64 is designed so that existing 32-bit applications run in
the 64-bit environment out-of-the-box.
The
corresponding 32-bit platforms are x86 for ia64, ppc for ppc64, s390 for
s390x, and x86 for x86_64. This support means that you can continue
to use your preferred 32-bit applications without waiting for a corresponding
64-bit port to become available. The current ppc64 system
runs most applications in 32-bit mode, but you can run 64-bit
applications.
