[Vm-dev] 64bit FFI?

[Andreas Raab]

Eliot Miranda wrote:
> I see that Bert, but Andreas is asking something different.  He is 
> asking if the existing 32-bit system can be run on a 64-bit platform, 
> not that one can run a 64-bit VM on a 64-bit platform.  In Qwaq we have 
> 32-bit server images and Andreas is interested in using these images 
> largely unchanged to run as 64-bit processes.

Well, actually, I am asking both ;-) The real problem is elsewhere. We 
have two issues that we need to address, one is the need for 32 bit 
libraries on a 64 bit system[*] and the other one is the need for 
utilization of more memory. The latter is a minor issue though, the real 
problem is the former. Because of this, I really don't care whether the 
image is 32 or 64 bit, but I *do* care whether the library the VM links 
against and that the plugins (FFI above all else) will work in the 64bit 
environment.

So in short, a 64bit VM is a must, a 64bit image somewhat optional.

[*] Really, the problem is conflicts between the two. Some libraries 
cannot have both 32 and 64 bit versions installed on the same box and 
unfortunately ODBC (which we rely heavily on) is one of those.

Cheers,
   - Andreas