How to Determine the Distribution Type and Architecture of Your Computer

When you generate an installer on the Simplified Solutions website, you'll see a few options that depend on your computer's operating system, whether Windows, macOS, or Linux. For most users, this step is simple once you know what you’re looking for.

Let's go through how to find this information on each system.

Windows

If you’re on Windows, you don’t need to worry about selecting a distribution type or architecture. All Windows installers from Simplified Solutions support both 32-bit and 64-bit versions automatically.

You can simply leave the settings as they are and click Generate Installer With These Options.

If you’re curious which version of Windows you’re using, here's how to check:

1. Click the Start menu and open Settings.

2. Select System → About.

3. Under Device specifications, you’ll see your System type, such as 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor.

But again, there’s no need to change anything—the installer will work either way.

macOS

On a Mac, you'll need to select a Distribution Type. The Distribution Type refers to the format of the installer file. Simplified Solutions uses DMG files, which are the standard disk image format for macOS. You don’t need to change this option unless you know you require a different format.

If you’re not sure which Mac you have - especially whether it uses an Intel chip or Apple Silicon (M1, M2, or newer) - here's how to check:

1. Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner.

2. Choose About This Mac.

3. Look for the Chip or Processor field.

   • If it says Apple M1 or Apple M2, your Mac uses Apple Silicon.

   • If it mentions Intel, then you have an Intel-based Mac.

Both are supported by Simplified Solutions installers, but knowing which one you have can help you understand your system better.

Linux

Linux users will see a few more options, since Linux distributions vary widely.

1. Determine your distribution type

The distribution type refers to the version of Linux your computer is running, such as Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, or CentOS.

To find your distribution:

1. Open a terminal window.
2. Type: cat /etc/os-release
3. Press Enter. You'll see details about your system. The line starting with "NAME=" tells you the distribution, for example:

NAME="Ubuntu"
VERSION="22.04 LTS (Jammy Jellyfish)"

2. Determine your architecture

Architecture refers to the type of processor your system users.

• In most modern systems, this will be x86_64 (also called AMD64), meaning a 64-bit Intel or AMD processor.
• Some lightweight or ARM-based systems (like Raspberry Pi) may use arm64 or aarch64.

To find your architecture:

1. In the same terminal window, type: uname -m
2. Press Enter, and you'll see an output such as:

x86_64

You can then select the matching option in the Architecture dropdown when generating your installer.

Generate the Installer

Once you've confirmed your system type, just click Generate Installer With These Options. The installer will be created with the correct configuration for your device.

If you're ever unsure, you can always reach out to our support team for help at support@simplifiedsolutions.io.