> I use 32bit server images in VPS because the RAM usage is significantly lower. This is critical in VPS units with 512MB of RAM... I'm worried.

You could use Debian x32 instead. 32 bit pointers but amd64 instruction set: https://wiki.debian.org/X32Port

The proposal explicitly calls to keep i386 as a target for containers.

You have 32bit support on 16.04 through 2021.

If by that point you can't just throw another 512 of RAM at the problem, I'd be worried. 1GB is already starting to become the lowest rung for VPS providers. That's the $5 plan at Linode, anyway. I fully expect that to be universal (or greater) in four years time.

And that's not to mention that while a little wider, 64bit is also faster. This could be a saving factor under load.

Same, I also get by with 512MB. If i686 support is dropped, I'd need to move up to 1GB, which comes with a considerable cost increase.

hmm, doesn't Linux have a mode where it keeps 32bit pointers even on x86_64? I remember reading about it.

x32 ABI. Although I've never heard of a Linux that's x32 only.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/X32_ABI

According to another comment made recently Debian has such a flavor:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15366955

Neat! It seems the main drawback is that you only have 4GB of virtual memory. I wonder whether it would be possible to create some sort of hybrid that allows access to more memory. (himem? long-pointers? separating data/code/stack into different regions?)

last time I checked it was nothing more then a PoC. Firefox was missing.

Use the netinst image, which is still being maintained.

Try a different distro?

That's what I was thinking. Arch switched to all x86_64 a few months ago (announced the phase-out) but, Arch would probably be just as lightweight. I'm not sure what DE it comes with

> I'm not sure what DE it comes with

None, the default install of Arch leaves you with a terminal prompt and basic utilities. You can install whatever you like from there. It's closer to something like the Debian minimal install than Ubuntu desktop.

I meant what does Ubuntu Server come with. Is it Unity too?

It doesn't come with one either, it's for servers. You can install the ubuntu-desktop package (which is basically what you get off of the desktop install disk) afterwards, though. Not really clear if that will still be option on i386, that is do a net install and then install ubuntu-desktop. It sounds to me like they are just retiring the installer images for i386 and not the desktop related packages, so if you really need it then you can go this route. I bet it won't be well tested/supported though.

On a related note, Unity is getting the axe and 17.10 will ship GNOME as the default DE.

Debian is the go to, they maintain niche architectures and ports almost to a fault.