[kwlug-disc] 64 bit install

[Insurance Squared Inc.]

To run 64 bit installs of linux, do I need 64 bit hardware?  I tried to 
install on a Xeon machine and it objected that the hardware was only 32 
bit.  (It's a 32 bit machine for the same reason I drive a Chrysler.  
All I could afford at the time :) ).

In the same vein, if I install a 32 bit install of say Mandriva on a 
machine with 8 gigs of ram, would one expect that the kernel being 
installed will address all 8 gigs?  i.e. do distro installs check for 
that stuff automatically these days?

g.