install extra ix86 packages after system installation

[Mark]

On March 22, 2004 11:20 am, Gene Czarcinski <gene at czarc.net> wrote:
> The FC1 x86_64 is capable of running both 32-bit applications and 64-bit
> applications.  FC1 currently includes a few ix86 libraries which are needed
> to support the application packages not yet ported/converted to 64-bit
> (e.g., mozilla and openoffice).  During installation (and post installation
> using up2date to update packages), the actual files installed seem to be
> "the right ones".
>
<trimmed>
> I first checked a couple of the program files (badblocks and blkid) with
> the file command and, sure enough, they were x86_64 binaries. I then did:
>
>   rpm  -ivh  e2fsprogs-1.34-1.i386.rpm
>
> I then checked the files again with the file command ... badblocks and
> blkid were now 32-bit applications.
>
> I then reinstalled the x86_64 package with:
>
>   rpm -Uvh --force e2fsprogs-1.34-1.x86_64.rpm
>
> Sure enough, the programs were back to being 64-bit applications.
>

This is a known issue. Yum however is smart enough to install the x86_64 
package after the x86_64 version. Yum however cannot handle adding i386 
packages for which the x86_64 package is already installed. So that is the 
only time you will have to do some extra lifting like forcing the i386 
package and then if needed reinstall the x86_64 patch.

> With FC2 coming "real soon now" it looks like mozilla will be 64-bit and I
> suspect soon that all applications will be 64 bit.

Both 32 and 64 bit Mozilla's will still remain AFAIK. 64 Bit Mozilla does ship 
with FC1 as well as it's required for some gnome stuff.

The reason 32 Bit Mozilla isn't leaving is that almost all plugins are 32 bit. 
>
> So how do we handle the situation where we have an "old" application which
> cannot be converted to 64 bit but we want to run it on our 64 bit system.
> This should be possible.  However, there is is possible, it is not at all
> easy with the current way rpm seems to work.
>
> Anyone have any suggestions?

Agreed but I don't think Redhat is going to go to the trouble of repackaging 
all the i386 packages so the install cleanly on a x86_64 system just on the 
chance that someone might want to install it.

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