How do I check if I have a 32-bit or a 64-bit OS?

Question

I downloaded and installed the latest 11.04 version from the official Ubuntu site.

However I don't know if it installed the 32-bit or 64-bit version.

In Windows 7 I could right click My PC and there the information was on display. Any easy ways in Ubuntu?

Answer 1

I know at least 2 ways. Open a terminal and type:

1. uname -a

   Result for 32-bit Ubuntu:

   Linux discworld 2.6.38-8-generic #42-Ubuntu SMP Mon Apr 11 03:31:50 UTC 2011 i686 i686 i386 GNU/Linux

   whereas the 64-bit Ubuntu will show:

   Linux discworld 2.6.38-8-generic #42-Ubuntu SMP Mon Apr 11 03:31:50 UTC 2011 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

   or

2. file /sbin/init

   Result for 32-bit Ubuntu:

   /sbin/init: ELF 32-bit LSB shared object, Intel 80386, version 1 (SYSV), dynamically linked (uses shared libs), for GNU/Linux 2.6.15, stripped

   whereas for the 64-bit version it would look like:

   /sbin/init: ELF 64-bit LSB shared object, x86-64, version 1 (SYSV), dynamically linked (uses shared libs), for GNU/Linux 2.6.15, stripped

Answer 2

You can open the command prompt and run uname -a which should tell you if you are running a 64 bit or 32 bit kernel (also, what version and whether it supports PAE).

I believe also that clicking System - About Ubuntu will have the same information. ALthough I am not at my linux computer right now to check

Answer 3

Architecture Checker

Download Link

Download, Mark Executable and Run.

Answer 4

Open a terminal and type:

uname -m

This results either:

686

or:

x86_64

686 means 32 bit, x86_64 means 64 bit.