Knoppix 7.0.2-EN DVD notes & comments

[ruymbeke]

Hi otropogo,
Yes you are running a 64 bits kernel since you can see most of your RAM (3.9GB instead of 2.9GB with a 32 bits kernel).
You can also see that you are running a 64bits kernel by running the command "uname -a" from a shell console:
"Linux Microknoppix 3.3.7-64 #40 SMP PREEMPT Tue May 22 08:47:38 CEST 2012 x86_64 GNU/Linux"
As Klaus explained previously, besides the fact that a 64bits kernel allows you to use almost all of your RAM
as most 64 bits applications the 64 bits kernel is also more efficient (runs faster) but at a price of a larger footprint
which is not desirable for a CD/DVD (especially when speed does not really matter for most users and applications),
reason for Klaus to only have the 64 bits Kernel available on his great Knoppix distribution (and have all the libraries
and other applications only as 32 bits code, knowing that 32bits code can be used with a 64bits kernel).
Now if for some reason you really like or need 64 bits native code to run on that platform then you need to have
some extra libraries (as glibc) and other tools to create these 64 bits applications (as gcc) and this is exactly
these installation steps that Klaus explained previously. Hope this helps.
Best Regards,
Gilles

[otropogo]

Hi otropogo,
Yes you are running a 64 bits kernel since you can see most of your RAM (3.9GB instead of 2.9GB with a 32 bits kernel).
You can also see that you are running a 64bits kernel by running the command "uname -a" from a shell console:
"Linux Microknoppix 3.3.7-64 #40 SMP PREEMPT Tue May 22 08:47:38 CEST 2012 x86_64 GNU/Linux"
As Klaus explained previously, besides the fact that a 64bits kernel allows you to use almost all of your RAM
as most 64 bits applications the 64 bits kernel is also more efficient (runs faster) but at a price of a larger footprint
which is not desirable for a CD/DVD (especially when speed does not really matter for most users and applications),
reason for Klaus to only have the 64 bits Kernel available on his great Knoppix distribution (and have all the libraries
and other applications only as 32 bits code, knowing that 32bits code can be used with a 64bits kernel).
Now if for some reason you really like or need 64 bits native code to run on that platform then you need to have
some extra libraries (as glibc) and other tools to create these 64 bits applications (as gcc) and this is exactly
these installation steps that Klaus explained previously. Hope this helps.
Best Regards,
Gilles

Thanks Giles. If I've understood correctly now, the optional kernel allows one to use more than 3.GB of RAM, but not to run 64-bit applications. I gather there may also be some performance loss, when running 32-bit applications on the 64-bit kernel?