title: How do shared libraries work in a mixed 64bit/32bit system?
body: <p>Good morning,</p>
  
  <p>on a 64bit RedHat box we have to compile and run a 32bit application. Meanwhile I managed to compile the gcc version needed (4.0.3) and all required runtime libraries in 32bit and have set the LD_LIBRARY_PATH to point to the 32bit versions, but now during the remaining build process, a small java program needs to be executed which is installed in /usr/bin as a 64bit program, which now finds the 32bit version of libgcc_s.so first.</p>
  
  <p>In general, if I set the LD_LIBRARY_PATH to the 32bit versions, I break the 64bit programs and vice versa.</p>
  
  <p>How it this supposed to work at all?  I am certain I am not the first person with this problem at hand.  How is it solved usually?</p>
  
  <p>Regards,
  Stefan</p>