Bug 173612

RHEL3 U6 release notes mention a "32-bit Compatibility Layer disc" which doesn't
exist for RHEL 3. It exists for RHEL 4, but not RHEL 3. In RHEL 4 ia64, the x86
packages are on a seprate disk. In RHEL 3 ia64, these packages are on the
regular installation disks.

http://www.redhat.com/docs/manuals/enterprise/RHEL-3-Manual/release-notes/as-itanium/RELEASE-NOTES-U6-itanium-en.html

<snip>

In addition, a set of 32-bit libraries and applications are provided on a
separate 32-bit Compatibility Layer disc. The IA-32 Execution Layer and 32-bit
compatibility packages together provide a runtime environment for 32-bit
applications on the 64-bit native distribution.

To install the IA-32 Execution Layer and required 32-bit compatibility packages,
follow these steps:

1. During the installation of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3 for the Intel Itanium2
Architecture, make sure to exclude the compatibility arch packages by clearing
the Compatibility Arch Support checkbox in the System category and the
Compatibility Arch Development Support checkbox in the Development category.
2. Insert the Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3 Extras CD, which contains the ia32el
package.
3. After the system has mounted the CD, change to the directory containing the
Extras packages. For example: 

cd /mnt/cdrom/RedHat/RPMS/


4. Install the ia32el package:

rpm -Uvh ia32el-<version>.ia64.rpm

where <version> is the version of the ia32el package to be installed.


5. Eject the Extras CD:


eject /mnt/cdrom



6. Install the compatibility layer libraries by running system-config-packages
and clicking the checkboxes for Compatibility Arch Support in the Systems
category and Compatibility Arch Development Support in the Development category.
Follow the on-screen prompts carefully, as the instructions specify the Red Hat
Enterprise Linux 3 disc to insert to install the compatibility layer library
packages.


7. To verify the installation of the 32-bit compatibility layer and libraries
after installation, check that the /emul directory has been created and contains
files. 

</snip>


It looks like step 6 is correct, so the crux of the matter is the mention of the
 "32-bit Compatibility Layer disc"