[mdlug] [Fwd: Re: [opensuse] 64 bit vrs 32 bit advantages speed etc.]

[Dan Pritts]

On Thu, Nov 01, 2007 at 10:44:18PM -0400, Aaron Kulkis wrote:
> First, I'll give you my relevant familiarity with
> this issue: in the commercial sector, I administrated
> machines with 64-bit OS installs as far back as 10
> years ago.  At that time, there were three options:
> 
> 1) buy 32-bit hardware, install 32-bit OS and run 32-bit code.
> or
> 2) buy 64-bit hardware, install 64-bit OS and run ONLY 64-bit code.
> or
> 3) buy 64-bit hardware, install 32-bit OS and run ONLY 32-bit code.
> 
> When AMD released the AMD-64 a couple years ago, a
> fourth option became available:
> 
> 4) buy 64-bit hardware, install 64-bit OS and run
>     both 32-bit and 64-bit code.

You could do this on UltraSPARCs as of Solaris 7.
Not all binaries worked in 64-bit mode but compatibility
was pretty good.