HOWTO: Java64 with 64-bit Firefox plugin

[Frak]

This tutorial was written specifically for Java 1.6.0_12, but should work fine on future revisions.

Installing Java for 64-bit

Begin by downloading Java from Sun. Download Here (Linux x64 self-extracting JRE file)

or paste this command into the terminal:

wget -c 'http://www.java.net/download/jdk6/6u12/promoted/b02/binaries/jre-6u12-ea-bin-b02-linux-amd64-08_dec_2008.bin'

Next, we'll create an install directory in /opt (as this is probably the best place for development applications).

cd /opt
sudo mkdir java
cd java

Let's copy the installer file to the java directory.

sudo cp ~/jre-6u12-ea-bin-b02-linux-amd64-08_dec_2008.bin /opt/java/

Finally, let's execute the installer

sudo bash jre-6u12-ea-bin-b02-linux-amd64-08_dec_2008.bin

For good measure, let's register this as the default Java provider.

sudo update-alternatives --install "/usr/bin/java" "java" "/opt/java/jre1.6.0_12/bin/java" 1
sudo update-alternatives --set java /opt/java/jre1.6.0_12/bin/java

Installing Firefox plugin
First, lets remove the gcj web plugin:

sudo apt-get remove icedtea-gcjwebplugin

Remove the Cacao-plugin as described by Jozza the Wick:

sudo apt-get remove cacao-oj6-plugin

If it comes up with "not found" or the like, ignore it and continue.

Since we have it all setup, all we need to do is install the Firefox plugin. This can be done in one simple command (change according to version).

mkdir ~/.mozilla/plugins
ln -s /opt/java/jre1.6.0_12/lib/amd64/libnpjp2.so ~/.mozilla/plugins/

deepclutch reported that this

sudo ln -s /opt/java/jre1.6.0_12/lib/amd64/libnpjp2.so /usr/lib/firefox-3.0.5/plugins/

worked instead. If this works for you, and the thanks system comes back up, all credit goes to him/her.


You can test the plugin by restarting your browser and going to http://www.javatester.org/version.html and checking for the pink box and line of text.

For Epiphany

ln -s /opt/java/jre1.6.0_12/lib/amd64/libnpjp2.so /usr/lib/epiphany-webkit/2.24/plugins/

by deepclutch

[Nublet]

i followed the guide, however

./jre-<miscellaneous version information> -amd64-<date>.bin

did not work, so i used

sudo sh ./jre-<miscellaneous version information> -amd64-<date>.bin

instead, and it doesn't work (java doesn't show up in firefox' addons manager, and javatester says it's disabled). did i do it wrong? regardless of wheter it's my fault or not, how can i repair it?

[Frak]

Follow the last part "Installing Firefox plugin". And, well, I guess make sure you aren't using the default text I provide, as anything in <> are just placeholders for the actual program. Such as mine was

./jre-6u12-ea-bin-b02-linux-amd64-08_dec_2008.bin

You probably already get that, but for anybody who doesn't, there it is.

[SuperSonic4]

nice one, java was my last reason for sticking to a 32 bit OS.
Would it be easier to put

wget -c 'http://www.java.net/download/jdk6/6u12/promoted/b02/binaries/jre-6u12-ea-bin-b02-linux-amd64-08_dec_2008.bin'

in the first line though?

[Frak]

nice one, java was my last reason for sticking to a 32 bit OS.
Would it be easier to put

wget -c 'http://www.java.net/download/jdk6/6u12/promoted/b02/binaries/jre-6u12-ea-bin-b02-linux-amd64-08_dec_2008.bin'

in the first line though?

Could, but I find it better if people download the latest build than to stick themselves with just one.

Come to think of it, I'll change it. It could make the guide a bit easier to read.

[texadactyl]

Nice write up. I told the sun-java maintainer about it as a heads up for future update. This update actually works at http://www.pogo.com

BTW, never try to predict ("should work...") the future unless you have a crystal ball that's in good shape!

[Frak]

Nice write up. I told the sun-java maintainer about it as a heads up for future update. This update actually works at http://www.pogo.com

BTW, never try to predict ("should work...") the future unless you have a crystal ball that's in good shape!

Thanks, and my crystal ball only has a few cracks

[Murrquan]

How do you undo this and change IcedTea to be the default, again? I installed Sun Java, but Runescape still won't run under it. ^.^;

[Frak]

run sudo update-alternatives java and choose the one you want.

[Murrquan]

Okay ... *does so* It just tells me

update-alternatives: unknown argument `java'