Detect if the computers hardware is capable for a 64bit system?

Question

I'm more and more getting into trouble with my Debian 32 bit system, since some software such as the signal messenger are not written for 32 bit anymore.

Operating System: Debian GNU/Linux bullseye/sid
          Kernel: Linux 5.8.0-2-686-pae
    Architecture: x86

I am not sure if this 32 bit system was installed rather by mistake, then of the hardware capability. Is there a way to detect whether my hardware is capable of running on 64 bit or not? (prefarably from the command-line)

Did you have a look at https://stackoverflow.com/q/246007? – Quasímodo Oct 20 '20 at 23:33 — Quasímodo, Oct 20 '20 at 23:33

schrodingerscatcuriosity · Accepted Answer · 2020-10-21T00:08:56.840

2

You can run these commands, if x86_64 and 64-bit, the answer would be yes:

$ lscpu | grep Arch
Architecture:                    x86_64
$ lscpu | grep mode
CPU op-mode(s):                  32-bit, 64-bit

From 32-bit, 64-bit CPU op-mode on Linux

lscpu is telling you that your architecture is i686 (an Intel 32-bit CPU), and that your CPU supports both 32-bit and 64-bit operating modes. You won't be able to install x64 built applications since they're built specifically for x64 architectures. Your particular CPU can handle either the i386 or i686 built packages.

Here's a list of the flags of /proc/cpuinfo:

What do the flags in /proc/cpuinfo mean?

edited Oct 21 '20 at 00:08

answered Oct 20 '20 at 23:35

schrodingerscatcuriosity

12,396

Yes, I get Architecture: i686 and CPU op-mode(s): 32-bit, 64-bit – nath Oct 20 '20 at 23:43
2

@nath This https://unix.stackexchange.com/q/77718 describes exactly your scenario – Quasímodo Oct 20 '20 at 23:45
Look at my edited answer – schrodingerscatcuriosity Oct 20 '20 at 23:47
1

@Quasímodo if I run cat /proc/cpuinfo I get: clflush size: 64; cache_alignment: 64; address sizes: 36 bits physical, 48 bits virtual for both CPUs. – nath Oct 20 '20 at 23:57

Detect if the computers hardware is capable for a 64bit system?

1 Answers1