10.3 32 bit to 64 bit

[sgharp]

Hi All,

I'd like to upgrade my existing openSUSE 10.3 machine from 32 bit to 64 bit. I have a running Apache server, MySQL, PHP, etc. Can I upgrade and what are the implications? My processor is a Dual Core Intel and the box has 4 gig of RAM. I'd like to be able to address all the memory.

Thanks,
Steve

[gogalthorp]

I'd do a new install rather then an upgrade, there are just too many things that might break on an upgrade.

You should be able to preserve your /home partition to save any personal files or settings. You will need to reinstall all that server stuff to upgrade to 64bit in any case. You will also want to save any HTML MYSQL and PHP data and programs that might not be on the /home partition. Best to just copy to home or another machine. When you install when you get to the partition screen take the advanced option and tell it to reformat the partition that had root and mount as /. Tell it to not reformat the old /home and remount it as /home.

If you have any 32bit programs on /home you may want to update to 64bit versions.

Generally speaking 32 bit programs will run on 64 bit OS but they will not take advantage of the address space. Also some proprietary programs will have problems. Example Skype The newest version will not run on 64 bit and I have to run an older buggier version.