Ubuntu – Why is there no 32 bit ISO for the new Ubuntu 18.04
18.0432-bit
Why is there no 32 bit ISO for the new Ubuntu 18.04?
Best Answer
There are 32 bit ISO from the new 18.04 LTS distro, but not standard Ubuntu. The community flavours have uploaded 32 bit iso files, and some of them are particularly suitable for old 32 bit computers, because they have light desktop environments,
Lubuntu
Ubuntu Budgie
Ubuntu MATE
Xubuntu
You can find them via the following link. Look for 'i386' in the name of the iso file.
You can use the Ubuntu mini.iso files in order to install Ubuntu in BIOS mode (but not in UEFI mode), and there is a 32-bit version with 'i386' in the name of the mini.iso file. See this link,
So it is possible to install standard Ubuntu in a 32-bit computer, but in most cases it is better to use a community flavour of Ubuntu with a lighter desktop environment, because standard Ubuntu 'wants' more powerful hardware for graphics that what is common in most 32-bit computers.
However, there may be cases, when you want to run a 32-bit operating system in a 64-bit computer, for example if you have some application software, that only works with a 32-bit system, or because a 32-bit system uses less RAM for the same task compared to a 64-bit system.
There has never been any difference in the support span before, and the release notes mention none for Kubuntu 18.04. So, for the lack of counter evidence, it is safe to assume that both 32 and 64bit packages will get 3 years of support.
The 'main' archive of Ubuntu 18.04 LTS will be supported for 5 years until April 2023. Ubuntu 18.04 LTS will be supported for 5 years for Ubuntu Desktop, Ubuntu Server, and Ubuntu Core. Ubuntu Studio 18.04 will be supported for 9 months. All other flavors will be supported for 3 years.
No. There never will be another Ubuntu that is 32-bit.
You will need to switch to an alternative. Some of the official flavors intend to keep 32-bit in their arsenal. But I would assume they will stick to LTS for 32-bit.
3 examples:
Budgie. 18.04 is 64 and 32. 19.04 is 64 only. No 18.10 download.
Xubuntu 18.04 is 64 and 32. 19.04 is 64 only. No 18.10 download.
Lubuntu has a 32 for 18.10 listed on their main site.
Yesterday, developer Dimitri John Ledkov wrote a message on the Ubuntu Mailing list calling for the end of i386 support by Ubuntu 18.10. Ledkov argues that more software is being developed with 64-bit support. He is also concerned that it will be difficult to provide security support for the aging i386 architecture.
Best Answer
There are 32 bit ISO from the new 18.04 LTS distro, but not standard Ubuntu. The community flavours have uploaded 32 bit iso files, and some of them are particularly suitable for old 32 bit computers, because they have light desktop environments,
You can find them via the following link. Look for 'i386' in the name of the iso file.
releases.ubuntu.com/
You can use the Ubuntu
mini.isofiles in order to install Ubuntu in BIOS mode (but not in UEFI mode), and there is a 32-bit version with 'i386' in the name of themini.isofile. See this link,cdimages.ubuntu.com/netboot
So it is possible to install standard Ubuntu in a 32-bit computer, but in most cases it is better to use a community flavour of Ubuntu with a lighter desktop environment, because standard Ubuntu 'wants' more powerful hardware for graphics that what is common in most 32-bit computers.
However, there may be cases, when you want to run a 32-bit operating system in a 64-bit computer, for example if you have some application software, that only works with a 32-bit system, or because a 32-bit system uses less RAM for the same task compared to a 64-bit system.