Multiarch: How to install ia32-libs on MX-21 and Debian-11?
For those who have used GNU/Linux, especially Debian GNU / Linux to version 8, which was stable between 2015 and 2017, being able to make use of the benefits of the «Multi-architecture» It didn't mean much of a problem. Therefore, many more could be executed 32 bit apps about 64 Bit Operating Systems.
However, this could no longer be done easily to the fullest since Debian 9 from the 2017, until today, year 2022, with Debian 10 and Debian 11, Debian Sid and Debian Experimental. Also, surely also in the future with Debian 12. But all is not lost, there is always a trick or workaround available. And here we will see a solution for install ia32-libs on MX-21 and Debian-11.
And as usual, before entering fully into today's topic on the "Multiarchitecture" in GNU/Linux Operating Systems, we will leave for those interested in exploring very old publications related to that point, the following links to them. In such a way that they can easily explore them, if necessary, after finishing reading this publication:
“Hello friends, this time I would like to show you how to install a library to run 32-bit programs on a 64-bit system, if you are wondering what it could be used for, it would be in XAMPP. Which asks us for a library to run on a 64-bit system. Well, get to work". How to Run 32-Bit Applications on 64-Bit Fedora
Multi-architecture on MX-21 and Debian-11: Is it possible?
What is Multiarchitecture in GNU/Linux?
To understand the "Multi-architecture" on GNU/Linux, and specifically about Debian GNU / Linux, nothing better than knowing how this is defined by the very Debian project. For this reason, we will quote the following text fragment:
"Multiarchitecture or multiarch are the terms that refer to the ability of a system to install and run applications from multiple different binary targets; for example, to run an i386-linux-gnu architecture application on an amd64-linux-gnu system. This being the most common case, there are many other examples of plausible combinations, such as armel and armhf. Multi-architecture also simplifies cross-compiling, in which libraries and headers from external architectures are needed on a system during compilation.
Existing proposals allow co-installation of libraries and headers for different architectures, though not yet binaries, so you can have either an i386 version or an amd64 version of a binary, but not both simultaneously. All dependencies will be installed and made available to the corresponding binary. Multi-architecture is a significant and powerful development, and it affects many processes and aspects of the system. The immediate practical effects are the removal of the ia32-libs package, and getting the appropriate dependencies for cross-compiling". Debian multi-arch support
Whereas, in practice and going straight to the point, this means that before Debian-9 the following could be executed command orders and be able to fully enjoy the benefits of "Multi-architecture" in 64-Bit Debian:
apt update
dpkg --add-architecture i386
apt-get install ia32-libs ia32-libs-gtk ia32-libs-kde ia32-libs-sdl
apt update
apt install "paquete:i386 que necesitemos"While, from Debian-9 through Debian-11 You can only do the following command orders:
apt update
dpkg --add-architecture i386
apt update
apt install "paquete:i386 que necesitemos"That is, we no longer have the ia32-libs package which is usually required to be able to execute many 32-bit apps, especially games. That they could very well be used on Debian-9 AMD-64, onwards.
How to install ia32-libs on MX-21 and Debian-11?
To be able to do this successfully, that is, not to die trying, in my case I will use the Respin (Snapshot) based MX-21/Debian-11, called Miracles to install the ia32-libs package compatible. To then run an app created for Linux i386, which is nothing more than an app of a current online virtual community, which is still in the testing phase (beta), which requires the ia32-libs package to work, and it's called Second Life. Which by the way, is very similar to the current Metaverses (Blockchain & DeFi Worlds).
Firstly, and after preparing our 64 Bit Operating System Multi-architecture basis MX-21/Debian-11, we download the ia32-libs package compatible with the following link (Mint 20.2 / UMA) and install it with the following command order:
sudo apt install ./Descargas/ia32-libs_2020.05.27_amd64.deb
Once this is done, our apps 32 bits, and in my case, Second Life, they can now be executed without any problem directly related to the packages: ia32-libs ia32-libs-gtk ia32-libs-kde ia32-libs-sdl. As shown in the following image:
And in case some are interested in knowing a little more about the subject Blockchain and DeFi, specifically about the NFT games, Metaverses and NFT Collectibles, you can explore the following link. Or see some of our previous related posts:
"Multiarch allows you to install libraries from multiple architectures on the same system. This is useful in many cases, but mainly to install 32-bit and 64-bit packages on the same machine and have dependencies automatically resolved. In general, you will be able to have libraries from more than one architecture installed together, and applications from one architecture or another installed as alternatives. Note that this does not allow the simultaneous installation of multiple versions of programs.". What is multi-architecture? – How To Debian
Summary
In summary, we hope that this guide or tutorial for install ia32-libs on MX-21 and Debian-11 be very useful for many, especially for those who need to run normal 32-bit apps or games on 64-bit platforms. And even for those users, interested in Blockchain & DeFi apps and games which usually come in 32 Bits only.
We hope that this publication is very useful for the entire «Comunidad de Software Libre, Código Abierto y GNU/Linux». And don't forget to comment on it below, and share it with others on your favorite websites, channels, groups or communities of social networks or messaging systems. Finally, visit our home page at «DesdeLinux» to explore more news, and join our official channel Telegram from DesdeLinux.
is what saves you and you can run win32 apps on 64 machines!
Very good article and very complete as always!
Greetings, Violet. Thanks for your comment. So you can run Linux32 apps on Linux64. To run Win32 or Win64 Apps, emulators based on Wine or others are used.