HT201731: Information about my Mac

Learn about Information about my Mac
ZHMMMY

Q: Used sudo to switch to 32-bit on MacPro Xeon with OS 10.7.5. How do I know if it is in 32 or 64 mode?

Used Terminal command "sudo systemsetup -setkernelbootarchitecture i386" to switch to 32-bit on MacPro Xeon with OS 10.7.5. How do I know if it is now in 32 or 64 bit mode? I need to use 32 bit for some of the audio software I have, including Soundflower.

 

Also, I've found 10.7.5 to be quirky in some ways. I don't want to lose use of accumulated audio and video software so can't go any further to El Capitan. I've got most everything including Java and Flash working well but really need to use 32 bit for Zoom R24 recording.

 

Sorry for the multiple questions but the Apple transition point of 10.6.8 to 10.7.5 is a real mess.

Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.5), Need to download app store app.

Posted on Jun 24, 2016 11:20 AM

Close

Q: Used sudo to switch to 32-bit on MacPro Xeon with OS 10.7.5. How do I know if it is in 32 or 64 mode?

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by BobHarris,Helpful

    BobHarris BobHarris Jun 25, 2016 7:47 AM in response to ZHMMMY
    Level 6 (19,640 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 25, 2016 7:47 AM in response to ZHMMMY

    Use Applications -> Utilities -> Activity Montior

    Play with the Activity Monitor -> View -> Columns to make sure "Kind" is displayed.

    Make sure you are displaying "All" processes, and not just "Your" processes.

     

    Then look for kernel_task.  It should be listed as 64-bits

     

    The following is from an El Capitan, which will most likely look a little different from Lion

    Screen Shot 2016-06-24 at 10.27.08 PM.png

     

    The following is from a Snow Leopard system, which is 32-bits by default.  You will notice that the Snow Leopard kernel_task "Kind" filed does nto say (64 bit).  If you managed to change your Lion system to boot 32-bits, then your kernel_task should not say (64 bit).

    Screen shot 2016-06-24 at 10.30.32 PM.png

  • by BobHarris,

    BobHarris BobHarris Jun 24, 2016 7:54 PM in response to ZHMMMY
    Level 6 (19,640 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 24, 2016 7:54 PM in response to ZHMMMY

    Another way might be the command 'uname -a'

    uname -a

    Darwin BobBookPro 15.5.0 Darwin Kernel Version 15.5.0: Tue Apr 19 18:36:36 PDT 2016;

    root:xnu-3248.50.21~8/RELEASE_X86_64 x86_64

    In this case I'm showing my El Capitan output, but the key bit of information is the x86_64 which indicates the kernel is compiled for 64 bits

     

    uname -a

    Darwin BobMacMini.local 10.8.0 Darwin Kernel Version 10.8.0: Tue Jun  7 16:33:36 PDT 2011;

    root:xnu-1504.15.3~1/RELEASE_I386 i386

    In this case I'm showing the Snow Leopard output.  Notice that it is i386, the 32-bit compiled kernel.

     

    So when you are booting a 32-bit kernel, it should says i386

  • by ZHMMMY,

    ZHMMMY ZHMMMY Jun 25, 2016 7:52 AM in response to BobHarris
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 25, 2016 7:52 AM in response to BobHarris

    Kernal Task and lsd only show "Intel" but everything else shows 64 bit. So the sudo did not work.

     

    Is there no way to use 32 bit on Lion 10.7.5?

  • by BobHarris,Helpful

    BobHarris BobHarris Jun 25, 2016 5:21 PM in response to ZHMMMY
    Level 6 (19,640 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 25, 2016 5:21 PM in response to ZHMMMY

    If the kernel_task says 'intel' ONLY, then you have booted a 32-bit kernel and can load 32-bit drivers (aka kernel extensions).

     

    You are confusing application programs and the booted kernel.  OS X can run 32-bit and 64-bit applications all day long concurrently.  It has been able to do this since Tiger 10.4.  It does not matter if the kernel is booted 32-bit or 64-bit, OS X can run both flavor of applications.

     

    The type of kernel ONLY affects the kernel extensions that can be loaded.  A 32-bit kernel must have 32-bit compiled kernel extensions.  A 64-bit kernel much have 64-bit compiled extensions.

     

    So the fact the your kernel says 'intel' ONLY means you have booted a 32-bit kernel and can load 32-bit kernel extensions.

  • by ZHMMMY,

    ZHMMMY ZHMMMY Jun 25, 2016 5:28 PM in response to BobHarris
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 25, 2016 5:28 PM in response to BobHarris

    You said since the kernel task doesn't say either 32 or 64, then 10.7.5 will run either?

     

    I installed Wavepad, which is 32 bit and it has the round bar stop signal (what's that thing called?). Anyway Wavepad won't work.

  • by BobHarris,

    BobHarris BobHarris Jun 25, 2016 7:04 PM in response to ZHMMMY
    Level 6 (19,640 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 25, 2016 7:04 PM in response to ZHMMMY

    I am saying that if Activity Monitor says 'kernel_task' is 'intel', then you booted a 32-bit kernel.  If 'kernel_task' says 'intel (64 bit)', then you booted a 64-bit kernel.

     

    All the other applications can be either 32-bit or 64-bit and what kind of kernel you booted does not matter to the Applications.

     

    If an application wants to install and run a kernel extension, that installation will care about the kind of kernel booted.  If the kernel extension is 32-bit only then it will need a 32-bit kernel.  NOTE: very few applications want kernel extensions, and generally you need to run an installer and give your admin password in order to install such an application.  Sometimes you might even be required to reboot after the install (not always, but sometimes).

     

    If WavePad is an intel based application, then it will not matter if it is 32-bit or 64-bit.  However, if WavePad needs to install a kernel extension, that will matter.

     

    If WavePad is a PowerPC based app (or the version you have is PowerPC) then that will NEVER run on Lion.  Snow Leopard was the last version of OS X that would run PowerPC based applications.

     

    If you use the Unix command 'file' against WavePad.app what does it say?

    file /Applications/WavePad.app/Contents/MacOS/*

    If it does not include (for architecture x86_64) or (for architecture i386), then it is not compiled for an intel processor

    NOTE:  I'm assuming WavePad is stored in your Applications directory, and that it is spelled WavePad.app.  If I am wrong, please adjust the file path according when using the 'file' command

     

    So here are some examples of 'file' command output

    file Gee.app/Contents/MacOS/Gee

    Gee.app/Contents/MacOS/Gee:                                     Mach-O executable ppc

    The above is a PowerPC ONLY compiled program.  This is the icon for Gee

    Screen Shot 2016-06-25 at 10.01.33 PM.png

    Notice it has a circle with a slash through it as, PowerPC only apps will not run on any version of OS X newer than Snow Leopard

    file EasyFind.app/Contents/MacOS/EasyFind

    EasyFind.app/Contents/MacOS/EasyFind:                           Mach-O universal binary with 3 architectures

    EasyFind.app/Contents/MacOS/EasyFind (for architecture x86_64): Mach-O 64-bit executable x86_64

    EasyFind.app/Contents/MacOS/EasyFind (for architecture ppc7400):  Mach-O executable ppc

    EasyFind.app/Contents/MacOS/EasyFind (for architecture i386):   Mach-O executable i386

    The above is a FAT application, in that it includes a 32-bit intel version (i386), a 64-bit intelversion (x86_64), and 32/64 bit PowerPC versions.  It is FAT because it contains multiple compiled versions for different architectures.

     

    This is the icon for EasyFind

    Screen Shot 2016-06-25 at 10.01.59 PM.png

    Notice this icon does NOT have a circle with a slash through it because it contains an intel compiled version of the application.

  • by ZHMMMY,

    ZHMMMY ZHMMMY Jun 25, 2016 11:22 PM in response to BobHarris
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 25, 2016 11:22 PM in response to BobHarris

    The command, "sudo systemsetup -setkernelbootarchitecture i386"worked!


    It was fooling me though. Every time I looked at the wave pad app by clicking on the app folder in the dock, it showed the slash circle so I hadn't even tried clicking on it. Then I went to the Applications folder in the Finder and Wavepad didn't have the slash circle and it opened. When I next looked at it in the dock app alias the slash circle had disappeared.


    Now I'm presuming all the 32-bit apps and 32-bit drivers will work.


    Thanks for your help!

  • by BobHarris,

    BobHarris BobHarris Jun 26, 2016 6:04 AM in response to ZHMMMY
    Level 6 (19,640 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 26, 2016 6:04 AM in response to ZHMMMY

    NOTE: 32-bit apps can run on a 64-bit OS X kernel.  It is just the 32-bit device drivers (kernel extensions) that cannot run on a 64-bit kernel.

     

    I'm glad you go things working to your satisfaction.