x86_64/i386

[Michael A. Peters]

Andrea Mastellone wrote:
> François Patte wrote:
>>
>> I think that this should *not* be the default unless everything x86_64
>> and i386 will work in the same way. This is now far from being achieved:
>> you cannot have all plugins or extensions working in firefox 64bits and
>> it is better to install i386 versions.
>>
>> The worse situation is for video (vlc, xine,....) there are a lot of
>> conflicts between libraries if you install 64bits versions of some
>> softwares using the same libraries...
>>
> 
> Hi,
> 
> you are absolutely right. In facts, I have just removed all ?86 packages 
> in a 64 bit system (Fedora 8).
> 
> I cannot use no more the following applications (due to the dependence 
> on 32 bit libraries):
> 
> - flash plugin from Adobe (workaround: gnash but it works at 40% , not 
> with youtube :( )
> 
> - Adobe Reader (not big problem due to evince)
> 
> - WMWare Player/Workstation with a 32 bit guest operating system (this 
> is a bit serious shortcoming)
> 
> - Skype (ops ! :( )
> 
> So, one should consider, before removing 32bit packages, if possible to 
> work without these softwares.
> 
> Now, the question: what is the *minimum* number of the ?86 libraries one 
> should install to get them working again ? :)

Remove all i386
Then yum install what you need and it will pull in the i386 equivalents.

On my CentOS box - the i386 packages I needed:

rar (shareware closed source, only i386)
flash plugin
nspluginwrapper
firefox

Including those four packages - 83 packages (most i386 - I think one or 
two are i686)

Adobe really needs to release an x86_64 flash plugin.
If they did - thanks to icedtea - I would only need rar and what rar 
needs (and I could probably do w/o that).