SUSE Linux Enterprise® is available for several 64-bit platforms. This does not necessarily mean that all the applications included have already been ported to 64-bit platforms. SUSE Linux Enterprise supports the use of 32-bit applications in a 64-bit system environment. This chapter offers a brief overview of how this support is implemented on 64-bit SUSE Linux Enterprise platforms. It explains how 32-bit applications are executed (runtime support) and how 32-bit applications should be compiled to enable them to run both in 32-bit and 64-bit system environments. Additionally, find information about the kernel API and an explanation of how 32-bit applications can run under a 64-bit kernel.
NOTE: 31-Bit Applications on IBM System z:
s390 on IBM System z uses a 31-bit environment. References to 32-bit applications in the following also apply to 31-bit applications.
SUSE Linux Enterprise for the 64-bit platforms ia64, ppc64, s390x, and
x86_64 is designed so that existing 32-bit applications
run in the 64-bit environment out-of-the-box.
The corresponding 32-bit platforms are x86 for ia64, ppc for
ppc64, s390 for s390x, and x86 for x86_64. This support means that
you can continue to use your preferred 32-bit applications without waiting
for a corresponding 64-bit port to become available. The
current ppc64 system runs most applications in 32-bit mode, but you can run
64-bit applications.