On Nov 22, 2007, at 2:17 PM, Craig White wrote:

> easy answer...Dell Optiplex 320
>
> i386 (32 bit) had multiple issues on this hardware including but most
> especially the inability to work properly with the drive controller  
> (SB
> 600) and a heavy hammer of requiring kernel parameter of acpi=off.  
> 86_64
> didn't have those issues which made the choice of installing 64 bit
> rather easy.

Thanks  Craig.  That was the clue I needed to figure this out enough  
to satisfy my  curiosity. It appears that the notion I had picked up  
that it was reasonable to support 64-bit applications on a 32-bit  
kernel applies only  to the Core 2 and comparable generation of CPUs  
in the Intel/AMD world. For the Pentium D chips used in the Optiplex,  
64-bit mode is pretty much all or nothing, though, as  you point out,  
there are wrappers for things like plug-ins.

I think this answers my question about why Linux is went down the dual  
track mode. The developers couldn't ignore a generation of CPUs.

Apparently these Optiplex machines have 64-bit BIOS and require 64-bit  
drivers, which leads me to wonder how you can get 32-bit  Windows to  
run on them.

--
In America, anybody can be president. That's one of the risks you take.
-Adlai Stevenson, statesman (1900-1965)

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