Why /lib64 instead of /lib/x86_64?

[Florian Bachmann]

Gene C. wrote:
> On Sunday 08 February 2004 11:08, Sam Varshavchik wrote:
> 
>>The subject says it all.  /lib64 doesn't feel right.  Why add another root
>>directory?  We already have /lib/i686, so /lib/x86_64 seems natural.
>>
>>Ditto for /usr/lib64.  /usr/lib/x86_64 looks better to me.
> 
> 
> IIRC, /usr/lib64 and /lib64 are "standard" for 64 bit systems .. not just the 
> x86_64.  So on a Sparc, Itanium or the IBM z/Architecture, you have 64 bit 
> libraries in /usr/lib64 also.

Same on IRIX on SGI workstations.

Regards