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It's an optional thing controlled by a kernel parameter you pass only at boot time. The reality is a modern server, where most Linux installations are, is going
by ronsor 3y ago
It's an optional thing controlled by a kernel parameter you pass only at boot time. The reality is a modern server, where most Linux installations are, is going to be running only 64-bit processes; there should be no 32-bit processes present. In fact, the presence of one may indicate a compromised (32-bit malware/botnet stub) server!
On the desktop, it's not like it'll be enabled by default, so you can still run 32-bit apps without issue such as Steam and Windows applications via WINE.
- josephcsible 3y agoI know it's optional for now. But now that the knob is there, it's only a matter of time until someone finds a way to effectively mandate that it be turned even on other people's computers.
- ronsor 3y agoI don't think that'll happen as long as x86 CPUs support a 32-bit userspace. Consider that Linux just dropped i486 support last year. The i486 released in 1989, over thirty years ago!
- josephcsible 3y agoI don't expect support to get dropped from the Linux kernel. I meant that I expect things like DRM, video game anticheat, and corporate VPN host checks to start refusing to work unless you turn it off.