Ubuntu 64bit

[CyberNerd]

can I use apt to install 32bit packages ?

-Ica client,gizmo,opera install with --force-architecture. I have a /usr/lib32 dir, but am missing important files.
I had no probs running them on SuSE 64 but not sure how to install 32bit stuff on Ubuntu. any pointers appreciated

[CyberNerd]

I already have some success by just copying the 32bit libraries (by hand) into the lib32 dir. Is it ok to just download and install the 32bit package witht eh --force-architecture or any considerations before I bork this system. Sorry if I sound a bit confused. I am.

[Geoff]

Why do you need 32bit packages? I have a perfectly happy 64bit LAMP install here..

[CyberNerd]

ica client (working now), opera, gizmo, games.
some of these require 32bit libraries that I don't have and I was looking for an 'apt' way of installing them.

[Geoff]

ah ok, have you tried using a chroot jail for your 32bit apps?

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=24575

[CyberNerd]

nope, I did read a bit about it but sort of got the impression it was doable without chrooting.. I'll try the chroot method, thanks.

[CyberNerd]

Thanks Geoff. This method works fine for met.
I have 32bit apps

Step 1:

    * sudo apt-get install dchroot debootstrap
    * sudo mkdir /chroot/
    * sudo gedit /etc/dchroot.conf
          o Add this line: dapper /chroot
    * sudo debootstrap --arch i386 dapper /chroot/ http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu
    * sudo chroot /chroot/
    * dpkg-reconfigure locales

Step 2:
In another terminal window (or by existing chroot):

    * sudo gedit /chroot/etc/apt/sources.list
    * Add the following lines:
          o deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper main restricted universe multiverse
          o deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper-security main restricted universe multiverse

(We do this step because gedit has yet to be installed in the chroot environment)

Step 3:
In your chrooted environment (chroot /chroot):

    * apt-get update ; apt-get upgrade

Step 4:
In another terminal window (or by existing chroot):

    * sudo cp /etc/passwd /chroot/etc/
    * sudo cp /etc/shadow /chroot/etc/
    * sudo cp /etc/group /chroot/etc/
    * sudo cp /etc/sudoers /chroot/etc/
    * sudo cp /etc/hosts /chroot/etc/
    * sudo gedit /etc/fstab
    * Add the following lines:
          o /home /chroot/home none bind 0 0
          o /tmp /chroot/tmp none bind 0 0
          o /dev /chroot/dev none bind 0 0
          o /proc /chroot/proc proc defaults 0 0
          o /media/cdrom0 /chroot/media/cdrom0 none bind 0 0
          o /usr/share/fonts /chroot/usr/share/fonts none bind 0 0
    * sudo mkdir /chroot/media/cdrom0
    * sudo mount -a
    * sudo gedit /usr/local/bin/do_dchroot
    * Add the following:
          o #!/bin/sh
          o /usr/bin/dchroot -d "`echo $0 | sed 's|^.*/||'` $*"
    * sudo chmod 755 /usr/local/bin/do_dchroot

Step 5:
In a new terminal:

    * dchroot -d
    * sudo apt-get install synaptic
    * sudo ln -s /usr/sbin/synaptic /usr/sbin/synaptic32
    * exit
    * sudo ln -s /usr/local/bin/do_dchroot /usr/local/bin/synaptic32
    * sudo synaptic32

At this point you should have a 32 bit environment setup with synaptic setup. When you run synaptic32 from your main environment it will chroot execute it and all installations will be made to your 32 bit environment. If you want to be able to easily launch 32 bit chroot apps from your 64 bit environment symlink the app name to /usr/local/bin/do_dchroot. If you're using this as desktop system you'll probably want to use synaptic to install x, gnome, ubuntu specific themes, etc.