The 64-Bit Compatibility Checking Tools

The Open Client for Linux is becoming increasingly available in different variations including 32 bit and 64 bit systems code. The 64-bit compatible tool is made available to provide a reliable and simple way to determine if a system's hardware can handle a 64-bit Operating System.

Running this tool gives you an instant answer to whether or not you can try 64-bit, though some may be asking why would they even want to use 64-bit. The following provides highlights both for and against 64-bit. (Note: Currently the only supported architecture for the Open Client is x86_64 and not ppc64 or Itanium)

For those running on Windows, and trying to determine if they should install Open Client for Linux 32 or 64 bit, you can try this freeware tool. Simply download and run, and it will tell you if you have 32 or 64bit compatible hardware. If it returns 64 maximum bit length, then it is recommended you run Open Client for Linux 64 bit.

The Basic Pros and Cons of 64-Bit (overview)

Advantages

• The potential to increase overall application and system performance.
• Greater than 4GB of memory (RAM) (i.e. 2^32 Bit addressing limited in 32-bit systems). ( Note: 32bit systems can get around this by using the PAE Kernel kernel-pae )
• 32-bit systems capable of unlocking the 4GB memory ceiling.
• Flexible code development
• Most 32-bit applications will still run.
• Supported engineering applications such as GYM, SLED, Matlab (c), Cadence(c), and Mentor(c).

Disadvantages

• Generally increases memory overhead for applications thus reducing efficiency
• Most desktop software hasn't been ported to 64-bit.
  

Installing and Starting Tool

Installing and Starting Tool

1. You can install the package for this tool from the "IBM Repo" (repository) located within your system's software package manager.
   
   The package that provides this tool can be found in the repository as openclient-check-64. Simply search for the tool by name or by package name in the software installer utility. Manual installs may be available as well.
   
   
2. To launch the tool, use the "Applications" menu or for some systems, the "Computer" menu.
   
   Look for the 64bit OC Check Icon:
   
   
   
   
   
3. Click on the icon to start the script.
   
   The application will start and simply provide the results of the system query in the form of a dialog window.

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Using the Tool

1. After starting the tool, you will get a dialog box and nothing more:
   
   Sample 64-Bit Compatibility Checking Tool Results
   
2. The application is a script running a few commands to determine your systems' hardware
   • If your system can handle 64-bit (i.e. it returns "lm" for the system cpu), you will have the following results:

     Successful Results "Your Computer is able to run the 64-bit Open Client"

   • If your system is strictly 32-bit (i.e. it fails to run the " lm" cpu code), you will have the following results:
     

     Failure Results "Your Computer is NOT able to run the 64-bit version of the Open Client"

     .
3. Hence after reading these results, you can determine if you are capable of running in 64-bit kernel mode or not.