How are 32-bit applications and multilib libraries supported in RHEL?

Solution Verified - Updated -

Environment

  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 6
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 7
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 8
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 9

Issue

  • Will Red Hat continue to support 32-bit applications in the future, for example in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 and later releases?
  • Are 32-bit libraries provided with Red Hat Enterprise Linux distributions?
  • Is there a 32-bit DVD ISO to install RHEL 7 and later releases?
  • Can I install RHEL 7 and later releases on 32-bit hardware?
  • Will RHEL 7 and later releases suppport i386 and i686 (x86) or only x86_64?
  • Does RHEL on ARM hardware support 32 bit?

Resolution

RHEL supports multiple hardware architecture platforms as defined in Red Hat Enterprise Linux technology capabilities and limits. The hardware defined in that list defines which hardware a given RHEL release will provide installation media and can be directly installed on the physical hardware.

Some releases also include multilib compatibility for select hardware architectures. This includes a multilib toolchain to build and run 32-bit applications in 64-bit OS + hardware environments.
This functionality also exists for RHEL 5 & 6 as documented in the knowledge article: How to install 32-bit packages on a 64-bit system

Regarding 32 bit Intel/AMD hardware (i686/x86)

  • RHEL 7 was the first release to no longer support installing directly on 32 bit Intel/AMD hardware (i686/x86). ISO installation media is only provided for 64-bit hardware.
  • RHEL 7, 8, 9 will continue to support the multilib toolchain, allowing applications to be compiled for both 32-bit and 64-bit.
  • RHEL 7, 8, 9 can host, using KVM virtualization technology, both 32-bit and 64-bit virtual guest instances of RHEL 5 and RHEL 6.

The table below provides a helpful quick reference while the certified hardware database provides more authoritative answers.

Additional helpful reference links

Installation and Multilib enablement

Architecture RHEL 7 RHEL 8 RHEL 9
ARM (aarch64) None Installation Installation
Intel/AMD (x86) 32 bit Multilib only Multilib only Multilib only
Intel/AMD (x86_64) 64 bit Installation Installation Installation
Power 7 (ppc) Multilib only None None
Power 7 (ppc64) Installation None None
Power 8 (ppc64le) Installation Installation None
Power 9 (ppc64le) Installation with P8 compat mode only Installation Installation
Power 10 (ppc64le) None Installation Installation
System Z z12 (s390) Multilib only None None
System Z z12 (s390x) Installation None None
System Z z13 (s390) Multilib only None None
System Z z13 (s390x) Installation Installation None
System Z z14 (s390) Multilib only None None
System Z z14 (s390x) Installation Installation Installation
System Z z15 (s390) Multilib only None None
System Z z15 (s390x) Installation Installation Installation

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