[CentOS] How to determine 64 vs 32 bit processor

[Robert Moskowitz]

On 04/10/2013 10:23 AM, Michael Mol wrote:
> On 04/10/2013 09:58 AM, Robert Moskowitz wrote:
>> I have been tied up with other work and Holidays.  Now back to some
>> server work that is long overdue.  I lost an old server yesterday so it
>> is crunch time.
>>
>> I believe my new platform is suppose to be an x86_64.  The order form
>> says 64 bit.
>>
>> I booted Centos 6.3 i386 liveCD to check the system out before an install.
>>
>> uname -i
>>
>> reports i386
>>
>> dmidecode -t processor
>>
>> reports Characteristics of 64 bit capable.  The processor is an AMD
>> duo-core Opteron.
>>
>> I thought that in a prior thread I found that booting with an i386 live
>> CD and using uname would confirm the processor type.  It seems not.
>>
>> I am going to go with the various evidence and start a x86_64 install,
>> but what is with uname?
>>
>> thanks
> uname reports the architecture that the running operating system was
> compiled for. Since you booted an i386-compiled OS, it will report as such.

Ah.  Got it.

> To confirm the details of the hardware, examine /proc/cpuinfo .

I have used cpuinfo a lot in the past, but recently I discovered 
dmidecode and find it very useful.