Ubuntu Plans For Linux x32 ABI Support

[chithanh]

You're assuming distros are going to create pure x32 distros, which i find unlikely. They already have to use the x64 kernel, so I find it hard to believe they wouldn't include x64 userland libs as well.

I think the main point behind Intel developing x32 is mobile (due to limited memory bandwidth). If would not be surprised if a future x32 enabled Tizen comes with 64 bit kernel&toolchain and everything else 32 bit.

[smitty3268]

I think the main point behind Intel developing x32 is mobile (due to limited memory bandwidth). If would not be surprised if a future x32 enabled Tizen comes with 64 bit kernel&toolchain and everything else 32 bit.

Is Intel behind x32? I thought it was the server guys, who wanted to bump up their benchmark scores.

Mobile is one possibility, but I'm not sure it's the reason x32 exists.

[chithanh]

See H. Peter Anvin's original x32 presentation (he works for Intel):
http://www.linuxplumbersconf.org/2011/ocw/sessions/531
Slide 10 explicitly mentions embedded devices as use case, although it is also possible to have better performance on other systems.