DAMTP Computing News

1542) 21/02/11 New Java for Linux

SUMMARY: An updated Oracle (was once 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 Oracle/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_24) is currently the latest release and replaces the previous version (1.6.0_23) which may be removed in few 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 are to Oracle rather than Sun - Sun were bought by Oracle in 2010.

Those wanting to use the latest Oracle (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_24
/opt/sunjava-32bit/jdk1.6.0_24
/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_24
/opt/sunjava-native/jdk1.6.0_24
/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@maths.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 ought to 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_24

or you can point the browser at:

which will display the version as "Version 6 Update 24" or "Java 6 Update 24".

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@maths.cam.ac.uk for advice.

The older java 1.6.0_22 versions have now been removed - somewhat later than suggested in news item 1531, but we got there eventually.

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