cpu version and Linux built

[Franky Leeuwerck_2]

Hi,

Two questions :

How can I find out on a Linux machine what the type of CPU is ( 32-bit or 64-bit ) ?

Also how can I find if a given Linux version is a 32 bit or a 64 bit built.

Thanks.

Franky

[Gopi Sekar]

uname -a should be able to tell u the type of linux installed.

and you can find out about the type of cpu by cat /proc/cpuinfo

Hope this helps,
Gopi

[Stuart Browne · Accepted solution]

'uname -m' is your friend.

If it's an Itanium, it'll be 'ia64'.

If it's an AMD Opteron, it'll say 'x86_64'.

These are primarily the two 64bit variants of Linux OS in an x86 based world.

If it says something like 'i586' or 'i686' (or some variant like that), it's a standard 32bit Intel (or clone) processor.

To find out more, have a look in '/proc/cpuinfo'.

Now, if you're talking about a PPC, Alpha or S370 type of system, things get a bit out of hand.. But '/proc/cpuinfo' is always your friend ;)

[Franky Leeuwerck_2]

Thanks for the replies !!

I would be even more greatefull if you would know of some Internet page matrixing the Linux built and the CPU type.



Anyway my problem is solved.
Regards,
Franky

[C. Beerse_1]

The linux-kernel (well, most unix implementations) details can be found with the `uname` command. `uname -a` gives roughly everything. See your local `man uname` for details.

For linux distributions that are installed using rpm (RedHat, SuSE ...) they install a package that indicate the installation media. For RedHat: `rpm -q redhat-release`. See `rpm -qa` for the complete list.

Lots of unix implementations fill details in /etc/issue*. These files are intended to be human readable.

[Stuart Browne]

Well, unfortunately, not really.. But here's a little quote from kernel.org:

"Although originally developed first for 32-bit x86-based PCs (386 or higher), today Linux also runs on (at least) the Compaq Alpha AXP, Sun SPARC and UltraSPARC, Motorola 68000, PowerPC, PowerPC64, ARM, Hitachi SuperH, IBM S/390, MIPS, HP PA-RISC, Intel IA-64, DEC VAX, AMD x86-64, AXIS CRIS, and Renesas M32R architectures."

So walking through this, and a copy of the source-tree (arch/), we can make this list:

alpha : Compaq/HP Alpha AXP
arm : Obviously - www.arm.com
arm26 : some more ARM processors.
cris : Axis Cris - www.axis.com
frv : Fujitsu embedded processors
h8300 : non-mmu microcontrollers (i.e. palm pilots) - www.uClinux.org
i386 : Intel 32bit (386-pentium 4) + AMD (up to Althons)
ia64 : Intel 64bit Itanium
m32r : Renesas Tech. Processors - http://www.renesas.com/
m68k : Motorola 68000 CPU's
m68knommu : see above, but without mmu
mips : MIPS processors (SGI etc., including the Nintendo 64!)
parisc : HP PA-RISC systems (Big Beasties!)
ppc : IBM/Motorola PowerPC, G3-G4 processors
ppc64 : IBM PowerPC series, G5 etc.
s390 : IBM MainFrame monsters
sh : Hitachi SuperH
sh64 : Hitachi SuperH 64bit
sparc : Sun Sparc 32bit
sparc64 : Sun UltraSparc 64bit
v850 : NEC v850e embedded processor support
x86_64 : AMD Opteron 64bit addressing

[Franky Leeuwerck_2]

Thanks for the further inputs.
I'm sure this will get me further.

Regards,

Franky