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I have a 32-bit version of Ubuntu 13.04 running on my 64-bit machine. I'm planning to install the 32-bit version of Eclipse 4.3 but I need to install Java JDK first.

I've had problems finding 32-bit version of Java JDK, Oracle only lists 64 bit versions of java for linux.

In any case, does it matter what version of Java JDK I install? Will Java JDK 64-bit work as well as it's counterpart (Java JDK 32-bit)?

I thought of installing the 64-bit version of Ubuntu 13.04 but I don't want to go through the hustle after having spent more than 12 hours upgrading from Ubuntu 11.04 to 12.xx ,and finally to 13.04.

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  • Does that mean that I can only install 32-bit software?
    – pyler
    Sep 24, 2013 at 22:11
  • Added my comments as an answer instead.
    – Alvar
    Sep 25, 2013 at 10:45

1 Answer 1

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You need a 64-bit version of Ubuntu on a 64-bit compatible computer, then you can install all 64-bit software and 32-bit software. On a 32-bit system you can only install 32-bit software.

You need to install a 64-bit version of Ubuntu to be able to install 64-bit applications.

The reason for this is that the hardware needs to be able to handle 64-bit long instructions and the operating system needs to know this. A 32-bit system doesn't know this and can't therefor handle the extra 32-bit instructions on a 64-bit instruction. That's why you need to install a 64-bit operating system.

Also all 32-bit systems that are supported are with PAE kernels which means they can handle up to 64GB of RAM, and not the usual 4 GB maximum.

Have you got anymore questions feel free to comment. :)

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