DAMTP Computing News

1500) 14/10/10 New Sun Java for Linux

SUMMARY: An updated Sun Java system has been installed for the Linux machines. A common use of this is for web browser plugins. You should restart any Linux web browser to ensure that you are using the latest Java 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, Maple or any other apps which may be using java.

An updated Sun Java Runtime Environment (jre) and Java Development Kit (jdk) has been install on the Linux (x86 and x86_64) machines. The new version (1.6.0_22) is currently the latest release and replaces the previous version (1.6.0_20) which will be removed in a couple of weeks. The new version also fixes some bugs and should improve performance and reliability.

For more details of the fixes please read:

[ Don't be surprised that the links above say Oracle rather than Sun at the top of every page - Sun were bought by Oracle several months ago. ]

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_22
/opt/sunjava-32bit/jdk1.6.0_22
/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_22
/opt/sunjava-native/jdk1.6.0_22
/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, but may be removed at some point in the future.

e.g. to run the native appletviewer the following path will work:

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

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 recent versions of Matlab, IDL, Maple and Scilab setups all point at this centrally installed Sun Java Runtime in /opt/sunjava-32bit/jre, /opt/sunjava-native/jre names. Hence they should pick up the latest version next time they are started.

Browsers can be checked by looking the special URL about:plugins which lists all the installed plugins - now is should include the following for java:

     Java(TM) Plug-in 1.6.0_22-b04

or you can point the browser at:

which will display the version as "Version 6 Update 22" or "Java 6 Update 22".

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