Google Chrome

[itman007]

Any solutions known for running Google Chrome. This is no longer supported for knoppix since knoppix is not truly 64 bit. Google has dropped the support for non 64 bit debian/linux systems. Since the students are required to use Google Chrome Im looking at a real crisis before school starts back this fall. Several 100 student pcs use Knoppix. Thanks for your ideas.

[Harry Kuhman]

I've been happy with Linux Mint for this purpose. Grab some of the 64 bit images while 17.3 is still available, version 18 is scheduled to drop multi-media support.

[itman007]

Thanks for that response. Im a diskless/zero client setup. I use a remastered version of KNOPPIX and after the remaster I copy the "big Knoppix" file to my CentOs pxe server. My clients boot via pxe and then load the big knoppix file. I love the hardware detection with Knoppix and its speed. Keep in mind I run this on over a 1000 devices/pcs here. I would be happy to run LMint if I could convert it to the posix file like knoppix and get the same hardware detection. Maybe you know a way? Ive attempted squashfs via a Debian image but hardware detection isnt as good, which forces me to find drivers that are sometimes hard to find.

[utu]

Thanks for your ideas.
Here's a conjecture you might want to consider:

FWIW, Chromium is supported by Linux Mint and Knoppix.
Chromium is supposed to be an open source equivalent of Chrome.

Chrome 64-bit builds will be the default when compiling on 64-bit Linux. See
https://www.chromium.org/developers/design-documents/64-bit-support

Linux Mint 17.3 LiveUSB isos are built with 64-bit kernels; presumably Mint 18's as well.
Knoppixes also have 64-bit kernels, also offer Chromium as an app.

Eventually, Chrome may only work with 64-bit kernel OSes.
However, it may be that Chrome may not require further 64-bit support from an OS, other than the kernel.

Maybe 64-bit Knoppix will work just fine with Chrome; if not, then maybe
Knoppix with Chromium will serve your purposes.

I think it's possible that the real 64-bit requirements for Chromium may only be
for a 64-bit cpu and a 64-bit-kernel-OS, and nothing more.

Here's an example I've run across with Knoppix, for example:
UEFI often requires a 64-bit kernel, but doesn't demand any significant 64-bit library.

[itman007]

UTU you lead me to believe by stating "Maybe 64bit Knoppix will work just fine with Chrome" that Knoppix will support 64 bit installers? If it does this would solve my issues. From my testing it will not. Please advise if you know how it will. Thanks greatly.

[superman]

@itman007
If it isn't great important to use the latest stable version of Google Chrome (51.0.2704.106 as of 23/June/2016), using old stable 32-bit version of Chrome (48.0.2564.116) may be an option. Files needed to run the old Chrome on KNOPPIX 7.4.2 are as follows,

google-chrome-stable_48.0.2564.116-1_i386.deb
libappindicator1_0.4.92-2_i386.deb
libdbusmenu-glib4_0.6.2-1_i386.deb
libdbusmenu-gtk4_0.6.2-1_i386.deb
libindicator7_0.5.0-1_i386.deb

[itman007]

Superman this is what Im running now but due to online testing requirements I must run latest version. Otherwise the testing administrator will complain and they must use Chrome and not Chromium even though I showed them it worked.

[utu]

UTU you lead me to believe by stating "Maybe 64bit Knoppix will work just fine with Chrome" that Knoppix will support 64 bit installers? If it does this would solve my issues. From my testing it will not. Please advise if you know how it will. Thanks greatly.
I'm using 64-bit Mint 17.3 Xfce as I write this. Just earlier I installed what appears to be an amd64 version of Chromium which seems to be
in working order, although I've not connected to Google with it. I'm presuming the same might be done with a 64-bit Knoppix 7.

It's not clear to me why Chrome would be absolutely essential to your effort, and I think 64-bit Mint 17.3 plus its Chromium might serve
just as well.
If you have a 64-bit Knoppix 7 you might see if it also has a 64-bit Chromium to try out.

[utu]

If you have a 64-bit Knoppix 7 ...

Knoppix 7.6.1 and Knoppix 7.7 both work with either 32-bit or 64-bit kernels.
The knoppix cheat code at boot gives you 32-bit; the cheatcode knoppix64 gives you 64-bit.
With 7.7, Knoppix automatically recognizes a 64-bit cpu and provides 64-bit, unless you change the boot script.

Knoppix 7.6 & 7.7 are equipped to provide 64-bit support for UEFI and memory purposes, but not necessarily
64-bit support for all applications. I suspect the same it true for Mint 17/18 for which there are different isos for 32-bit & 64-bit.

I'm hoping that this limited 64-bit capability of Knoppix or Mint is adequate to provide all the 64-bit support
that either Chrome or Chromium require. I think its possible that this may turn out to be nothing more than
a UEFI support requirement.

[itman007]

This must be Google Chrome because the dept of education says students must be tested using the Google Chrome latest version web browser. No exceptions.
Knoppix tells me it is i686 when given the arch command from root terminal. When I attempt to install Chrome I get a message stating "error processing archive googlechrome.deb package architecture (amd64) does not match system (i386)

[itman007]

Ive also just tested the force boot of 64bit knoppix, I changed the kernel command from booting vmlinuz to vmlinuz-4-4-0-64 Now when give the arch command I get x86_64 rather than i686 Yet once again when I attempt to install Chrome I get the error processing package amd64 does not match system 1386

[utu]

@itman007
If it isn't great important to use the latest stable version of Google Chrome (51.0.2704.106 as of 23/June/2016), using old stable 32-bit version of Chrome (48.0.2564.116) may be an option. Files needed to run the old Chrome on KNOPPIX 7.4.2 are as follows,

google-chrome-stable_48.0.2564.116-1_i386.deb
libappindicator1_0.4.92-2_i386.deb
libdbusmenu-glib4_0.6.2-1_i386.deb
libdbusmenu-gtk4_0.6.2-1_i386.deb
libindicator7_0.5.0-1_i386.deb

This Chrome (series 48 ) is not current; also i386 is for 32-bit systems.

The Chromium which comes with Mint17.3 usVersion 50.0.2661.102 Built on Ubuntu 14.04, running on LinuxMint 17.3 (64-bit)
So if you can find a Chrome (series 50 or later) that might help.

[superman]

@itman007
If it isn't great important to use the latest stable version of Google Chrome (51.0.2704.106 as of 23/June/2016), using old stable 32-bit version of Chrome (48.0.2564.116) may be an option....
This Chrome (series 48 ) is not current; also i386 is for 32-bit systems.

The Chromium which comes with Mint17.3 usVersion 50.0.2661.102 Built on Ubuntu 14.04, running on LinuxMint 17.3 (64-bit)
So if you can find a Chrome (series 50 or later) that might help.


I am quite aware that the Chrome 48 is outdated and the specified filename is for 32-bit system as both points have been mentioned in my original post. Besides, from my limited on-line search, it is most unlikely that Chrome (not Chromium) v50 and above for 32-bit Linux can be found on the net. It is also not doable to run Windows 32-bit Chrome via Wine and is too expensive to use the approach of virtual machine just to run this single software.

[Harry Kuhman]

"'and is too expensive to use the approach of virtual machine just to run ..."

I'm not saying that you should run a virtual machine. But in what way is it more expensive to do so? There are free options available. And since you are already committed to running a 64 bit version of the browser, i assume that you're not talking about any need to upgrade hardware for this. Please explain the "too expensive" comment.

[superman]

"'and is too expensive to use the approach of virtual machine just to run ..."
...
Please explain the "too expensive" comment.
That comment solely refers to the ratio between the storage space of Chrome and that of Windows OS.

[itman007]

This is seeming more and more evident that Knoppix will not run the latest version of Google Chrome.

[MrNovi]

This is seeming more and more evident that Knoppix will not run the latest version of Google Chrome.

I agree. It has become evident that the original poster needs to re assess their goals. Which is more important, using Knoppix or Chrome. Since Chrome on Knoppix doesn't appear to be a viable option it has become clear that the only viable option is to switch to a different distro that does he can run Chrome on. The more time he wastes bashing his head against the wall trying to make something that simply isn't going to happen work his time would be better spent on setting up a distro that will run Chrome.