How To Install 32 Bit Firefox

I have installed 10.3 rc1 and cannot use java in firefox. After reading several posts, it seems that if I install 32 bit firefox and 32 bit java I might solve my problem. I would like to know how to install a 32 bit version of firefox. I have tried to install the 32 bit rpm but it has numerous dependency problems. Any help in pointing me in the right direction would be appreciated.

I have installed 10.3 rc1 and cannot use java in firefox. After reading several posts, it seems that if I install 32 bit firefox and 32 bit java I might solve my problem. I would like to know how to install a 32 bit version of firefox. I have tried to install the 32 bit rpm but it has numerous dependency problems. Any help in pointing me in the right direction would be appreciated.
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Remove the 64-bit Firefox rpm; delete the hidden folder .firefox in /home/yourname; install the 32-bit Firefox using Smart & it will take care of all the dependencies for you.

Did you do this:
"Java Runtime Environment
Version: 1.4.2 or later
SeaMonkey 1.0: Supported
Firefox 2.0: Supported
FAQ: Java FAQ

1. Install Java Runtime Environment.
2. Make a symbolic link to libjavaplugin_oji.so in your Mozilla Plugins directory. Use the copy located in the plugin/i386/ns7 directory of JRE 5.0 or later, or plugin/i386/ns610-gcc32 if you are using JRE 1.4.2.

Important! Do not copy the plugin to your plugins directory. If you do, Mozilla will crash any time you attempt to view a page containing a Java applet.
Note: The instructions listed here are for the Sun Java Runtime Environment. Other Java Runtime Environments, such as those available from IBM and the Blackdown project, can also be used.
Downloads Sun JRE 6.0, IBM JRE or Blackdown JRE 1.4.x"
from: http://plugindoc.mozdev.org/linux.html#Java

There is a 64-bit java plugin for firefox from BlackDown. I'd try getting that & make the sym link as above.

good luck...

I haven't installed 64-bit 10.3 (I'm testing the 32-bit 10.3), but for my production system I use 64-bit 10.2.

The JRE on 10.2 is 64-bit. By default Firefox is 32-bit. The Firefox java plugin is 32-bit, and it calls the 64-bit JRE for execution. If you look at the 10.2 64-bit .iso you'll note that the JRE is 64-bit. I mention this because there has been confusion about a 32-bit Firefox & 32-bit java plugin calling a 64-bit JRE - it works. How it's implemented in 64-bit 10.3, can't say (yet).

As far as getting the 10.3 plugin working . . . you might take a look at the thread I started at 10.3 Java Plugin Problem Again, I can't say this is true on the 64-bit, but I suspect it is. The java 1.5 plugin symlink is a different name and points to a different plugin executable than does the 1.6 plugin. Java 1.6 JRE has the fix necessary for java graphics to work. When you install the 1.6 plugin, the symlink in /usr/lib/browser-plugins is not changed nor is it pointed to the new 1.6 plugin executable. The functionality of the 1.5 plugin (libgcwebplugin.so) is also different than the 1.6 plugin (libjavaplugin_oji.so). And again, the plugins are all 32-bit and can only be executed by a 32-bit Firefox, even though the JRE is 64-bit.

As far as 64-bit alternatives, Blackdown hasn't been maintained for a long time and crashes on pages which use more sophisticated and current java. I've read that IBM's Java includes a 64-bit plugin, but after downloading both 1.4 and the new release 5 I couldn't find it anywhere. If you find it, please post back where it can be found.

I filed a bugzilla report with Novell, #327533.

I haven't installed 64-bit 10.3 (I'm testing the 32-bit 10.3), but for my production system I use 64-bit 10.2.

The JRE on 10.2 is 64-bit. By default Firefox is 32-bit. The Firefox java plugin is 32-bit, and it calls the 64-bit JRE for execution. If you look at the 10.2 64-bit .iso you'll note that the JRE is 64-bit. I mention this because there has been confusion about a 32-bit Firefox & 32-bit java plugin calling a 64-bit JRE - it works. How it's implemented in 64-bit 10.3, can't say (yet).

As far as getting the 10.3 plugin working . . . you might take a look at the thread I started at 10.3 Java Plugin Problem Again, I can't say this is true on the 64-bit, but I suspect it is. The java 1.5 plugin symlink is a different name and points to a different plugin executable than does the 1.6 plugin. Java 1.6 JRE has the fix necessary for java graphics to work. When you install the 1.6 plugin, the symlink in /usr/lib/browser-plugins is not changed nor is it pointed to the new 1.6 plugin executable. The functionality of the 1.5 plugin (libgcwebplugin.so) is also different than the 1.6 plugin (libjavaplugin_oji.so). And again, the plugins are all 32-bit and can only be executed by a 32-bit Firefox, even though the JRE is 64-bit.

As far as 64-bit alternatives, Blackdown hasn't been maintained for a long time and crashes on pages which use more sophisticated and current java. I've read that IBM's Java includes a 64-bit plugin, but after downloading both 1.4 and the new release 5 I couldn't find it anywhere. If you find it, please post back where it can be found.

I filed a bugzilla report with Novell, #327533.
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Thanks to all for your responses. I did the symlink thing and did get the "plugin required" error to go away. However it still did not render the site properly. On to another problem that the 32 bit Firefox does not seem to work with vlc to render video and mplayer will not work either. For me there are just too many problems with 64 bit. I am not a guru so I think I will stay with 10.3 x86. It is fast enough for me. Again thanks for all the help.
Ron