I have CentoOS 5.4 x86-64 and every time I do yum install ... two versions of the same package are installed: one ending in .i386 and the other ending in .x86_64.
Is it nessesary to install .i386 versions given my OS is x86_64?
Have I just been wasting space by always installing both .i386 and .x86_64 versions of the same package?
From this forum, It seems you need to exclude some specific architectures.
Add this line to your /etc/yum.conf:
exclude=*.i386 *.i586 *.i686
Note that this can have some implications (see forum post).
The answer is no.
However, if you are using some package(s) that require 32 bit libs/packages then yes, you need them. This is most often seen (as on my workstation) in the requirements for running the Adobe Flash plugin.
This is not normal. Perhaps somewhere along the line you installed some 32 bit packages(s) that are the cause of subsequent 32 bit package installs. Look in the yum install log and see if you can pinpoint the first 32 bit packages installed. Check if there is anything on the system which requires 32 bit support (like the aforementioned flash or windows apps running on wine).
