Bug 326691

Summary:	required kernel configuration
Product:	[OLD] Docs on www.gentoo.org	Reporter:	kavol
Component:	Installation Handbook	Assignee:	nm (RETIRED) <nightmorph>
Status:	RESOLVED FIXED
Severity:	normal	CC:	docs-team
Priority:	High
Version:	unspecified
Hardware:	AMD64
OS:	Linux
URL:	http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/handbook/handbook-amd64.xml?part=1&chap=7
Whiteboard:
Package list:		Runtime testing required:	---

Description kavol 2010-07-02 23:08:02 UTC

7. Configuring the Kernel - Activating Required Options

"Make sure you select IA32 Emulation if you want to be able to run 32-bit programs. Gentoo will install a multilib system (mixed 32-bit/64-bit computing) by default, so you probably want this option."

ok, I don't _want_ to be able to run 32bit programs, so I don't select CONFIG_X86_32

but I did not change the profile from the default to no-multilib ... does this matter? - I don't mind if something 32bit got installed, still I do not want to run it, so no, no probability bigger than zero that I would _want_ to activate the option

KABOOM! - I can't update (emerge) glibc, it dies with "cannot execute binary file" (I refer to bug #325031)

please clarify the wording so that it is clear that IA32 is *required* (except for no-multilib profile(s)), no matter if the user wants or does not want to run 32bit code

Reproducible: Always

Comment 1 nm (RETIRED) gentoo-dev

2010-07-17 20:19:36 UTC

It's pretty clear in the English guide that IA32 support is needed if you're on the multilib profile. There are also numerous other instructions that explain how to switch to a non-multilib profile in both the handbook and the AMD64 FAQ.

However, I added an extra note on these steps for non-multilib users, just so that they understand there's more they'll need to do. This is in addition to the existing instructions elsewhere in the handbook.