Finding your OS and Database 32 bits or 64 bits

Want to know whether your Database / Operating System is running a 32-bit or 64-bit software?


DBAs often need to know if they should install Oracle 32-bit or 64-bit software on a given server. If the operating system support 64-bit applications, the 64-bit Oracle distribution can be loaded. Otherwise, the 32-bit distribution must be installed. The following Unix commands will tell you whether your OS is running 32-bits or 64-bits:

Solaris - isainfo -v (this command doesn't exist on Solaris 2.6 because it is only 32-bits)

HP-UX - getconf KERNEL_BITS

AIX - bootinfo -K

LINUX - uname -a

If your Linux OS is 32 bit the output will be like below:

Linux oraclesrvr 2.6.18-8.el5PAE #1 SMP Tue Jun 5 23:39:57 EDT 2007 i686 i686 i386 GNU/Linux

If your Linux OS is 64 bit the output will be like below:

Linux aptserver 2.6.18-8.el5xen #1 SMP Tue Jun 5 23:53:34 EDT 2007 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

If you need to know Oracle 32-bit or 64-bit software is currently installed on a system, connect using a command line utility like sqlplus and look at the banner. If you are running 64-bit software, it will be mentioned in the banner. If nothing is listed, you are running on a 32-bit base.


If your Oracle Software is 64 bit the output will be like below:
SQL> select * from v$version;

BANNER
----------------------------------------------------------------
Oracle Database 10g Enterprise Edition Release 10.1.0.3.0 - 64bi
PL/SQL Release 10.1.0.3.0 - Production
CORE 10.1.0.3.0 Production
TNS for Linux: Version 10.1.0.3.0 - Production
NLSRTL Version 10.1.0.3.0 - Production


If your Oracle Software is 32 bit the output will be like below:
SQL> select * from v$version;

BANNER
----------------------------------------------------------------
Oracle Database 10g Enterprise Edition Release 10.1.0.3.0 - Prod
PL/SQL Release 10.1.0.3.0 - Production
CORE 10.1.0.3.0 Production
TNS for Linux: Version 10.1.0.3.0 - Production
NLSRTL Version 10.1.0.3.0 - Production