Main Menu | Search | CD Help | Access the Technical Program

Linux RPM manual download and Installation Instructions

The following information from Sun Microsystems, Inc. can be found at http://java.com/en/download/help/linux_install.jsp

Before installing from this CD, consider connecting to the internet to automatically or manually download and install directly from Sun Microsystems, Inc. This way you will be sure to have the latest and most appropriate installation for your system.

This article applies to:

Platform(s):
Sun Java Desktop System 2003, Red Hat Linux 7.3 and 8.0, SuSe Linux 8.0, TurboLinux 7.0
Browser(s):
Netscape 4.7.x
Mozilla 1.2.1, 1.3, 1.4, 1.4.1
JRE version(s):
1.4.2_xx (xx can be 01 - 99)

Follow these steps to download and install the JRE for Linux.

Use the appropriate installation package
Install
Enable and Configure
Test Installation

Linux system requirements

Red Hat 7.3 or
Red Hat 8.0 or
Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS 2.1 or
Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES 2.1 or
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS 2.1 or
SuSE 8.0 or
TurboLinux 7.0 or
SLEC 8
You will also need a Pentium 166MHz or faster processor with a minimum of 75MB free disk space and a minimum of 32MB of RAM.

There are two types of installation packages. Linux RPM package or Linux self extracting binary file. Use the package that best suits your needs.
Note: Linux RPM (Redhat Package Manager) uses RPM to install the JRE. In order to use this method, you need to have RPM available on your system. Otherwise use the other option.

Install

Linux self extracting binary file
Linux RPM package
Note: The instructions below are for installing JRE 1.4.2_04. If you're installing another version, make sure you change the version number appropriately when you type the commands at the terminal.

To install the Linux RPM (self-extracting) file

j2re-1_4_2_05-linux-i586-rpm.bin - (self-extracting. If using Internet Explorer, right click to save this file to your computer.)

Follow these instructions:

At the terminal: Type:
su
Enter the root password.
Change to the directory in which you want to install. Type:
cd
For example, to install the software in the /usr/java/ directory, Type:
cd /usr/java
Note about root access: To install the JRE in a system-wide location such as/usr/local, you must login as the root user to gain the necessary permissions. If you do not have root access, install the JRE in your home directory or a subdirectory for which you have write permissions.
Change the permission of the file you downloaded to be executable. Type:
chmod a+x j2re-1_4_2_05-linux-i586-rpm.bin
Start the installation process. Type:
./j2re-1_4_2_05-linux-i586-rpm.bin
This displays a binary license agreement. Read through the agreement. Press the spacebar to display the next page. At the end, enter yes to proceed with the installation.

The installation file creates j2re-1_4_2_-linux-i586.rpm file in the current directory.

Run the RPM command at the terminal to install the packages. Type:
rpm -iv j2re-1_4_2_05-linux-i586.rpm
The JRE is installed in j2re1.4.2_(version number) sub-directory under the current directory. In this case, the JRE is installed in the /usr/java/j2re1.4.2_05 directory. Verify that the j2re1.4.2_05 sub-directory is listed under the current directory. Type:
ls

The installation is now complete. Go to the Enable and Configure section.

Enable and Configure

Mozilla 1.4 and later

Mozilla 1.2, Netscape 6 and later

Mozilla 1.4 and later

Go to the plugins sub-directory under the Mozilla installation directory
cd <Mozilla installation directory>/plugins
In the current directory, create a symbolic link to the JRE ns610-gcc32/libjavaplugin_oji.so file Type:
ln -s <JRE installation directory>/plugin/i386/ns610-gcc32/libjavaplugin_oji.so
Example:
- If Mozilla is installed in this directory:
  /usr/lib/mozilla-1.4/
- and if the JRE is installed at this directory:
  /usr/java/j2re1.4.2_04
- Then type at the terminal to go to the browser plug-in directory:
  cd /usr/lib/mozilla-1.4/plugins
- Enter the following command to create a symbolic link to the Java Plug-in for the Mozilla browser.
  ln -s /usr/java/j2re1.4.2_04/plugin/i386/ns610-gcc32
  /libjavaplugin_oji.so .
Start Mozilla browser or restart it if it is already running. Note that if you have other Mozilla components (ie: Messenger, Composer, etc) running, you will need to restart them as well.
Go to Edit > Preferences. Under Advanced category > Select Enable Java

Mozilla 1.2, Netscape 6 and later

Go to the plugins sub-directory under the Netscape directory
cd <Netscape>/plugins
Create a symbolic link to the ns610/libjavaplugin_oji.so file:
ln -s <JRE>/plugin/i386/ns610/libjavaplugin_oji.so
Example:
- If Netscape is installed at this directory:
  /usr/lib/Netscape6/
- And if the JRE is installed at this directory:
  /usr/java/j2re1.4.2_04
- Then type at the terminal to go to the browser plug-in directory:
  cd /usr/lib/Netscape6/plugins
- Enter the following command to create a symbolic link to the Java Plug-in for the Mozilla browser.
  ln -s /usr/java/j2re1.4.2_04/plugin/i386/ns610
  /libjavaplugin_oji.so .
Start Mozilla browser or restart it if it is already running. Note that if you have other Mozilla components (ie: Messenger, Composer, etc) running, you will need to restart them as well.
Go to Edit > Preferences. Under Advanced category > Select Enable Java

Test Installation

To test that the JRE is installed, enabled and working properly on your computer, run this test applet from our web site: http://www.java.com/en/download/help/testvm.jsp
The JRE installation and configuration is successful if you can see the animation of the Duke™ logo image.

Go Back To Top