you are a new oracle dba and you dont find the lib32 directory in a 11gR2 oracle home.However you know that it was present previously in an oracle 1g oracle home.read on to find the answer.
$ORACLE_HOME/lib32 does not exist in Oracle database 11gR2. Why? [ID 883702.1]
——————————————————————————–
Modified 19-MAR-2012 Type HOWTO Status PUBLISHED
In this Document
Goal
Solution
——————————————————————————–
Applies to:
Oracle Server – Enterprise Edition – Version: 11.2.0.0 to 11.2.0.2 – Release: 11.2 to 11.2
HP-UX PA-RISC (64-bit)
IBM AIX on POWER Systems (64-bit)
Oracle Solaris on SPARC (64-bit)
HP-UX Itanium
Oracle Solaris on x86-64 (64-bit)
Linux x86-64
Goal
This document explains why $ORACLE_HOME/lib32 does not exist in Oracle database 11gR2 and what you need to do to get 32-bit libraries.
Solution
This is an expected behavior.
The structure $ORACLE_HOME/lib32 exists when you install 64 bit executables on a system AND that installation comes with both 32 bit and the default 64 bit libraries (pre 11.2) The 64 bit libraries are placed into the $ORACLE_HOME/lib and the 32 bit are placed into the $ORACLE_HOME/lib32 directories.
When you install 32 bit executables since there is only the 32 bit libraries, they are placed into the $ORACLE_HOME/lib directory.
Starting from Oracle database 11gR2, 32-bit libraries are not being shipped with the 64-bit Oracle database server or 64-bit Oracle database client media. Hence after installing Oracle database 11gR2, you will not find lib32 folder inside $ORACLE_HOME.
If you want 32-bit libraries, you need to install 32-bit client which is shipped as a separate media. This should be installed only on a new Oracle home. You should neither install it on 64-bit server home nor on 64-bit client home.
For Linux x86-64, the client shiphome for Linux x86 can be used because that essentially is the 32-bit equivalent.
Note:
The 11.2.0.x 32-bit Linux x86 Oracle Database client is supported on the Linux x86-64 AMD64/EM64T (64-bit OS).
When installing, Instant Client, Runtime and Administrator are offered. Instant Client should not be installed. If it is, the 32-bit libraries are not included and it is impossible to de-install.
Select Runtime or Administrator client while installing the client.
