Xeon 64-bit?

klussier at comcast.net klussier at comcast.net
Mon Jul 9 14:22:27 EDT 2007


 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: Jarod Wilson <jarod at wilsonet.com>
> 
> > amd64 = em64 = x86-64[1], I believe it's generally referred to as amd64
> > because AMD beat Intel to market with a widely used x86 compatible 64-bit
> > CPU.
> >
> > [1] for certain values of "="
> 
> I find the use of 'amd64' for package arch in debian/ubuntu/derivatives... 
> well, dumb and confusing for end-users who don't know any better (as 
> evidenced by the existence of this thread).
> 
> I presume Debian jumped on building 64-bit packages for the AMD64 architecture 
> before Intel announced their 64-bit x86-compatible chips, and decided to call 
> the packages amd64. The lack of planning and foresight there is amusing. 
> Unless of course its an intentional F-U to Intel... In which case, its 
> amusing in a different way, but still stupid if you care about end-users.
> 
> (Nb: Red Hat and SUSE generally use x86_64 as the arch for AMD64 and EM64T 
> alike)

Debian has this to say on the matter:
https://alioth.debian.org/docman/view.php/30192/21/debian-amd64-howto.html#id250846

The jist is, it used to be x86-64, then it was amd64, but x86_64 is still used. Now doesn't that just clear everything up? :-)

C-Ya,
Kenny


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