[solved] Install 64bit from 32bit chroot? [answer: no]

Sade · Last edited by Sade on Sun Mar 18, 2012 9:41 am; edited 1 time in total

I would like to reinstall my Gentoo system, switching from 32bit to 64bit. However, normally when I reinstalled gentoo, I use a chroot install from the AltInstall Manual.

The question is, will this also work when installing (compiling) 64bit packages in a chroot running from a 32bit (gentoo) environment?
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Kaso_da_Zmok · Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 8:52 pm Post subject:

Sade · Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 8:59 pm Post subject:

Hmmm, I figured as much, I just hoped for....
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Kaso_da_Zmok · Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 2:53 am Post subject:

i am just missing the point here. why can't you boot 64bit live cd and install from there?

Sade · Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 7:36 am Post subject:

Because the machine is being used, and I want to downtime as small as possible
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xaviermiller · Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 11:23 am Post subject:

The only solution is then cross-compiling a stage3.
But you will have so many headaches, that booting a 64 bit live CD is the easier solution.
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Kaso_da_Zmok · Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 12:10 pm Post subject:

when i needed quick gentoo desktop on my laptop i installed the gentoo LiveDVD and i think is doable in 10 minutes.
Gentoo LiveDVD 2012 to HDD install in under 3 minutes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9opce1BemU&list=UU8X5LtHwayn1KmV-h5AFO0w&index=2&feature=plcp

Hu · Moderator Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 21607

An amd64 kernel built with IA32 emulation can run x86 programs. You could boot the amd64 LiveCD, rearrange your partitions to make room for an amd64 installation, then chroot into your regular system and run your programs from there. This would let you run your regular X server and programs with all their files, but also keep the text consoles attached to the amd64 CD, which you could then use to install a new amd64 system in the background. This does require adequate space to have both systems temporarily installed side-by-side. Using LVM makes this easier, but if the existing system is not LVM, the change can still be done.

Sade · Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 9:41 am Post subject:

Thanks everybody,

I will opt for the no-headache option, i.e., reboot into 64bit
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Not now, John! · n00b Joined: 16 Jul 2004 Posts: 3

Hello everyone!

Basically this thread answers my question, but I just want the confirmation from experts.

I wanted to do the same thing as Sade. I followed this link to make 64bit kernel and everything went well. The system booted. However, I'm wondering if it's possible to compile kernel modules - particularly nvidia-drivers? Because the kernel is 64bit, I would have to compile 64bit kernel driver, but there are also some libraries in nvidia-drivers that won't work with my 32bit system. Also, this requires recompilation of xorg-server and who knows what else. Is this correct, or there is a way to overcome this?

I've already given up, because I won't gain much with 64bit system, and the hassel is to big, but for future visitors and for the sake of my education

I beg your answer.