In a freshly installed and updated 12.04 LTS system, almost all of the linux-headers-* packages contain error(s) in their description. In particular, I've installed the 32-bit version, but 'apt-cache search linux-headers' returns a long list of packages that each have in their description something to the tune of "Linux kernel headers for version 3.2.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP". I read this as saying that this package is for 64-bit systems only, which is incorrect. It installed and seems to be working just fine (I was able to compile my custom kernel module without issue) on my 32-bit system.
3.2.0-24-generic is the kernel version I am actually using, so here is its output:
# apt-cache show linux-headers-3.2.0-24-generic
Package: linux-headers-3.2.0-24-generic
Priority: optional
Section: devel
Installed-Size: 10825
Maintainer: Ubuntu Kernel Team <email address hidden>
Architecture: i386
Source: linux
Version: 3.2.0-24.37
Provides: linux-headers, linux-headers-3.0
Depends: linux-headers-3.2.0-24, libc6 (>= 2.11)
Filename: pool/main/l/linux/linux-headers-3.2.0-24-generic_3.2.0-24.37_i386.deb
Size: 940912
MD5sum: 1707953ebcc788a4d96199bed7c0e5e0
SHA1: 7a4e84fd216f390dbc930a1914da3ee1f0766c19
SHA256: 327c3f77309590b87ee4f18e79aaa70511d3ca6ba529dbddf547e44c084ab27f
Description-en: Linux kernel headers for version 3.2.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
This package provides kernel header files for version 3.2.0 on
64 bit x86 SMP.
.
This is for sites that want the latest kernel headers. Please read
/usr/share/doc/linux-headers-3.2.0-24/debian.README.gz for details.
Description-md5: 0800a3fde9a304123771093d77cc82c8
Bugs: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+filebug
Origin: Ubuntu
Supported: 18m
Trying to restrict the set of linux-headers packages based on those that may incorrectly report themselves as being 64-bit only, I see:
# apt-cache search linux-headers | grep 64
linux-headers-3.2.0-23-generic - Linux kernel headers for version 3.2.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
linux-headers-3.2.0-23-virtual - Linux kernel headers for version 3.2.0 on 64 bit x86 Virtual Guests
linux-headers-3.2.0-23-generic-pae - Linux kernel headers for version 3.2.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
linux-headers-3.2.0-23-lowlatency - Linux kernel headers for version 3.2.0 on x86/x86_64
linux-headers-3.2.0-24-generic - Linux kernel headers for version 3.2.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
linux-headers-3.2.0-24-virtual - Linux kernel headers for version 3.2.0 on 64 bit x86 Virtual Guests
linux-headers-3.2.0-24-generic-pae - Linux kernel headers for version 3.2.0 on 64 bit x86 SMP
Only the -lowlatency variant has what I would consider to be the "correct" explanation: that the package is appropriate for both 32- and 64-bit systems.
As all of this is primarily a documentation bug, I omit detailed information about my system. Everything works just fine, it's just not intuitive that those are the right packages to install to do kernel module development on a 32-bit system.
Thanks!
-Jon
---
AlsaVersion: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Driver Version 1.0.24.
ApportVersion: 2.0.1-0ubuntu7
Architecture: i386
ArecordDevices:
**** List of CAPTURE Hardware Devices ****
card 0: Intel [HDA Intel], device 0: STAC92xx Analog [STAC92xx Analog]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
AudioDevicesInUse:
USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
/dev/snd/controlC0: jmmccune 1601 F.... pulseaudio
Card0.Amixer.info:
Card hw:0 'Intel'/'HDA Intel at 0xd4720000 irq 48'
Mixer name : 'Intel IbexPeak HDMI'
Components : 'HDA:111d7603,103c7008,00100202 HDA:80862804,80860101,00100000'
Controls : 30
Simple ctrls : 11
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=0a81f530-3973-4e36-8581-391ad855ef13
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.04 LTS "Precise Pangolin" - Release i386 (20120423)
Lsusb:
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 8087:0020 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 8087:0020 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 04f2:b163 Chicony Electronics Co., Ltd
MachineType: Hewlett-Packard HP EliteBook 2540p
Package: linux (not installed)
PccardctlStatus:
Socket 0:
3.3V
16-bit
PC Card
Subdevice 0 (function 0) bound to driver "pata_pcmcia"
ProcEnviron:
TERM=xterm-color
LANG=en_US.UTF-8
SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcFB: 0 inteldrmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.2.0-24-generic root=UUID=cb05bb2d-6a76-4e54-ab16-f7e4576f357d ro
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-24.37-generic 3.2.14
RelatedPackageVersions:
linux-restricted-modules-3.2.0-24-generic N/A
linux-backports-modules-3.2.0-24-generic N/A
linux-firmware 1.79
SourcePackage: linux
StagingDrivers: mei
Tags: precise staging precise staging
Uname: Linux 3.2.0-24-generic i686
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
UserGroups: adm cdrom dip lpadmin plugdev sambashare sudo
dmi.bios.date: 03/09/2011
dmi.bios.vendor: Hewlett-Packard
dmi.bios.version: 68CSU Ver. F.09
dmi.board.name: 7008
dmi.board.vendor: Hewlett-Packard
dmi.board.version: KBC Version 38.32
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: Hewlett-Packard
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnHewlett-Packard:bvr68CSUVer.F.09:bd03/09/2011:svnHewlett-Packard:pnHPEliteBook2540p:pvr:rvnHewlett-Packard:rn7008:rvrKBCVersion38.32:cvnHewlett-Packard:ct10:cvr:
dmi.product.name: HP EliteBook 2540p
dmi.sys.vendor: Hewlett-Packard
I should also mention that the README file referenced in the description does not exist either:
/usr/share/
Again, only really a documentation problem.