[nycbug-talk] FreeBSD 7.2 and 64/32 bit issues

[Charles Sprickman]

Howdy,

So I finally have my first server that actually needs to run 64-bit 
FreeBSD.  Out of the box, everything seems fine and dandy.

I was looking for some info in the handbook/FAQ about compatibility issues 
with 32-bit binaries, but didn't really find anything definitive (I may 
need to temporarily run a 32-bit jail).

Where can I find more basics about how the system deals with mixed 
binaries?  I see many mentions online about a "/usr/lib32" directory, but 
my install has no such thing.  Oddly enough, a random "/bin/ls" copied 
from a 4.8 box (yes, different major OS version AND 32 bit) "just works". 
I also grabbed LSI's "MegaCli" binary from their site.  It's a 32-bit 
binary and it works with no issues.

In short it seems like it's all too easy, so I'm suspicious...

Any pointers to more reading?

Thanks,

Charles

[root at bigmail /home/spork]# file /lib/libc.so.7
/lib/libc.so.7: ELF 64-bit LSB shared object, x86-64, version 1 (FreeBSD), 
stripped
(yes, the system appears to be 64-bit)

[root at bigmail /home/spork]# file ls
ls: ELF 32-bit LSB executable, Intel 80386, version 1 (FreeBSD), for 
FreeBSD 4.8, statically linked, FreeBSD-style, stripped
[root at bigmail /home/spork]# ./ls
.bash_history                   .shrc
.cshrc                          .ssh
.login                          5-1.00.15_FreeBSD_MegaCLI.zip
.login_conf                     5.00.15_FreeBSD_MegaCLI.txt
.mail_aliases                   CmdTool.log
.mailrc                         MegaCli
.profile                        MegaSAS.log
.rhosts                         ls

[root at bigmail /home/spork]# file MegaCli
MegaCli: ELF 32-bit LSB executable, Intel 80386, version 1 (FreeBSD), 
statically linked, stripped
[root at bigmail /home/spork]# ./MegaCli -AdpAllInfo -a0
...
                 ================
Product Name    : PERC 6/i Integrated
Serial No       : 1122334455667788
FW Package Build: 6.2.0-0013
...