DAMTP Computing News

1293) 29/03/09 Newer Sun Java for Linux

SUMMARY: An updated Sun Java system has been installed for the Linux machines. A common use of this is from web browser plugins. You should restart any Linux web browser to ensure that you are using the latest version.

NOTE: this is a security update and to have a useful effect and to get the bug fixes you should restart all browsers, OpenOffice, Matlab or any other apps which may be using java.

An updated Sun Java Runtime Environment (jre) and Java Development Kit (jdk) on the Linux (x86 and x86_64) machines has been installed. The new version (1.6.0_13) is currently the latest release and replaces the previous version (1.6.0_12) which will be removed at some point in the future. The new version fixes some security problems, bugs and adds some new functionality.

For more details of the fixes please read:

Those wanting to use the latest Sun JRE or JDK tools can now locate them under various paths.

For the 32-bit version even on 64-bit (x86_64) machines:

/opt/sunjava-32bit/
/opt/sunjava-32bit/jre1.6.0_13
/opt/sunjava-32bit/jdk1.6.0_13
/opt/sunjava-32bit/jre
/opt/sunjava-32bit/jdk

For the native version on the platform in question (32 or 64 bit):

/opt/sunjava-native/
/opt/sunjava-native/jre1.6.0_13
/opt/sunjava-native/jdk1.6.0_13
/opt/sunjava-native/jre
/opt/sunjava-native/jdk

The old paths e.g. /opt/sunjava/jre/ will also still work - referring to the 32bit version at the moment. e.g. to run the native appletviewer the following path will work:

/opt/sunjava-native/jdk/bin/appletviewer

Various older java versions are still present for now but will be removed at some point in the future. See news item 1265 and news item 1263 for information about the previous versions and 64-bit support.

Anyone who believes that they need any of the older versions should contact help@damtp.cam.ac.uk so we can find out why/if the latest version is not suitable.

The Firefox (and Seamonkey) java plugins, OpenOffice and Matlab setups all point at the /opt/sunjava-32bit/jre, /opt/sunjava-native/jre or the older /opt/sunjava/jre name so should pick up the latest version next time they are started.

Browsers can be checked by looking the special URL about:plugins which lists what plugins are being used - now is should include the following for java:

     Java(TM) Plug-in 1.6.0_13-b03

or point the browser at:

Those who use other or locally installed browsers using java plugins should ensure that the plugin links are pointed at the new version. If you don't know what that means then feel free to ask help@damtp.cam.ac.uk for advice.

If any of these changes cause problems please let us know as soon as possible. Complaints etc to jp107@damtp.cam.ac.uk