64-bit Ubuntu: No such file or directory

Problem:

When trying to install the WebLogic 8.1 SP6 binary (platform816_linux32.bin) on 64-bit Ubuntu 9.04 Desktop, the following errors were observed:

./platform816_linux32.bin
./platform816_linux32.bin: No such file or directory

Background & Analysis:

The first couple of checks (obvious) for such an error are:

(1) Check if the file exists in the appropriate location

(2) Check if the file has the required permissions (read/execute)

The above checks were successful and so the error was misleading.

(3) Using the file command, the following was observed:

file platform816_linux32.bin 
platform816_linux32.bin: ELF 32-bit LSB executable, Intel 80386, version 1 (SYSV), dynamically linked (uses shared libs), for GNU/Linux 2.0.0, stripped

The above output indicates that the WebLogic installer binary is 32-bit and uses 32-bit shared libraries.

(4) The host OS was 64-bit Ubuntu and this could be confirmed using the uname command:

uname -a
Linux mrkips-laptop 2.6.28-13-generic #45-Ubuntu SMP Tue Jun 30 22:12:12 UTC 2009 x86_64 GNU/Linux

32-bit shared libraries are not available by default on 64-bit Ubuntu.

Solution:

Get the 32-bit shared library package for use on amd64 and ia64 systems, ia32-libs, using any one of the following methods:

sudo apt-get install ia32-libs

               OR

Launch the Synaptic Package Manager from the Ubuntu Desktop and install the ia32-libs package along with any required dependencies.

Root Cause:

The 32-bit shared libraries required for the installation of the 32-bit WebLogic binary installer were not available by default on 64-bit Ubuntu 9.04 Desktop.

NOTE:

(1) The solution above describes a successful problem-solving experience and may not be applicable to other problems with similar symptoms.

(2) Your rating of this post will be much appreciated. Also, feel free to leave comments.