Package architecture (AMD64) does not match system (i386) on Ubuntu

I have Ubuntu:

Ubuntu 12.04.1 LTS 

This is output of cat /proc/cpuinfo:

processor : 0 vendor_id : AuthenticAMD cpu family : 15 model : 47 model name : AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 3400+ stepping : 2 cpu MHz : 1000.000 cache size : 512 KB fdiv_bug : no hlt_bug : no f00f_bug : no coma_bug : no fpu : yes fpu_exception : yes cpuid level : 1 wp : yes flags : fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush mmx fxsr sse sse2 syscall nx mmxext fxsr_opt lm 3dnowext 3dnow up extd_apicid pni lahf_lm bogomips : 2000.17 clflush size : 64 cache_alignment : 64 address sizes : 40 bits physical, 48 bits virtual power management: ts fid vid ttp tm stc 

This is output of dpkg --version:

Debian `dpkg' package management program version 1.16.1.2 (i386). This is free software; see the GNU General Public License version 2 or later for copying conditions. There is NO warranty. 

Despite dpkg is compiled for i386, it seems I have Amd64 as a processor. But when I install Java:

sudo dpkg -i sun-java6-bin_6-06-0ubuntu1_amd64.deb 

I have this error:

dpkg: error processing sun-java6-bin_6-06-0ubuntu1_amd64.deb (--install): package architecture (amd64) does not match system (i386) Errors were encountered while processing: sun-java6-bin_6-06-0ubuntu1_amd64.deb 

Any ideas?

1 Answer

I am afraid you are trying to install a 64-bit deb on a 32-bit operating system which is not possible.

Download the appropriate 32-bit deb file and then try to install it. Also note that the linked deb file was packaged for Hardy (8.04) and can very well open you up for security threats given how outdated the package is and the withdrawal of any future security updates for Sun Java from Oracle.