JAVA Plugin Won't Work

[Dave Krick]

I am fairly new to Linux, and I can't seem to get Java to work.  I've
downloaded the plugin and followed the registration instructions, all to
no avail.  I've checked that my preferences have it enabled and I've
gone in as root to a web site that I know uses it and, when prompted if
I want to download it, I've said yes and, after doing it's thing, it
tells me that it was downloaded and installed okay.  I'll restart
Mozilla and it still won't recognize Java.

I'm running Fedora Core 1 and Mozilla 1.6.  I had the same situation
with Mozilla 1.5 and 1.4.  I have Fedora updated to the latest status.

I would really appreciate it if anyone has any suggestions for me.  If
you do, please be detailed in any command line instructions.

Thanks.

[Michael Kearey]

Dave Krick wrote:
> I am fairly new to Linux, and I can't seem to get Java to work.  I've
> downloaded the plugin and followed the registration instructions, all to
> no avail.  I've checked that my preferences have it enabled and I've
> gone in as root to a web site that I know uses it and, when prompted if
> I want to download it, I've said yes and, after doing it's thing, it
> tells me that it was downloaded and installed okay.  I'll restart
> Mozilla and it still won't recognize Java.
>
> I'm running Fedora Core 1 and Mozilla 1.6.  I had the same situation
> with Mozilla 1.5 and 1.4.  I have Fedora updated to the latest status.
>
> I would really appreciate it if anyone has any suggestions for me.  If
> you do, please be detailed in any command line instructions.
>
> Thanks.

This works near to 100% of the time:
http://fedora.artoo.net/faq/#Java

Cheers, Michael

[Robert G. (Doc) Savage]

On Sun, 2003-12-14 at 18:28, Dave Krick wrote:
> I am fairly new to Linux, and I can't seem to get Java to work.  I've
> downloaded the plugin and followed the registration instructions, all to
> no avail.  I've checked that my preferences have it enabled and I've
> gone in as root to a web site that I know uses it and, when prompted if
> I want to download it, I've said yes and, after doing it's thing, it
> tells me that it was downloaded and installed okay.  I'll restart
> Mozilla and it still won't recognize Java.
>
> I'm running Fedora Core 1 and Mozilla 1.6.  I had the same situation
> with Mozilla 1.5 and 1.4.  I have Fedora updated to the latest status.
>
> I would really appreciate it if anyone has any suggestions for me.  If
> you do, please be detailed in any command line instructions.

Dave,

Here's a micro-howto I use. It includes instructions for either J2
Runtime Edition or J2 System Developer's Kit. Pick one.

Download latest J2RE or J2SDK from http://java.sun.com

1.  $ chmod +x j2re-1_4_2_02-linux-i586-rpm.bin
    $ chmod +x j2sdk-1_4_2_02-linux-i586-rpm.bin

2.  $ ./j2re-1_4_2_02-linux-i586-rpm.bin
    $ ./j2sdk-1_4_2_02-linux-i586-rpm.bin

3.  $ su -
    Password: ********

4.  # rpm -ivh j2re-1_4_2_02-linux.i586.rpm
    # rpm -ivh j2sdk-1_4_2_02-linux.i586.rpm

5.  # cd /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins

6.  # ln -s /usr/java/j2re1.4.2_02/plugin/i386/ns610-gcc32/libjavaplugin_oji.so
    # ln -s /usr/java/j2sdk1.4.2_02/jre/plugin/i386/ns610-gcc32/libjavaplugin_oji.so

7.  # ls -l
    total NNNN
    ...
    lrwxrwxrwx    1 root     root           72 Dec  2 06:46 libjavaplugin_oji.so -> /usr/java/j2sdk1.4.2_02/jre/plugin/i386/ns610-gcc32/libjavaplugin_oji.so
    ...

That's it.

--Doc Savage
  Fairview Heights, IL

[Chris A Czerwinski]

On Sun, 2003-12-14 at 22:19, Robert G. (Doc) Savage wrote:
> On Sun, 2003-12-14 at 18:28, Dave Krick wrote:
> > I am fairly new to Linux, and I can't seem to get Java to work.  I've
> > downloaded the plugin and followed the registration instructions, all to
> > no avail.  I've checked that my preferences have it enabled and I've
> > gone in as root to a web site that I know uses it and, when prompted if
> > I want to download it, I've said yes and, after doing it's thing, it
> > tells me that it was downloaded and installed okay.  I'll restart
> > Mozilla and it still won't recognize Java.
> >
> > I'm running Fedora Core 1 and Mozilla 1.6.  I had the same situation
> > with Mozilla 1.5 and 1.4.  I have Fedora updated to the latest status.
> >
> > I would really appreciate it if anyone has any suggestions for me.  If
> > you do, please be detailed in any command line instructions.
>
> Dave,
>
> Here's a micro-howto I use. It includes instructions for either J2
> Runtime Edition or J2 System Developer's Kit. Pick one.
> Download latest J2RE or J2SDK from http://java.sun.com
>
> $ chmod +x j2re-1_4_2_02-linux-i586-rpm.bin
> $ chmod +x j2sdk-1_4_2_02-linux-i586-rpm.bin
>
> $ ./j2re-1_4_2_02-linux-i586-rpm.bin
> $ ./j2sdk-1_4_2_02-linux-i586-rpm.bin
>
> $ su -
> Password: ********
>
> # rpm -ivh j2re-1_4_2_02-linux.i586.rpm
> # rpm -ivh j2sdk-1_4_2_02-linux.i586.rpm
>
> # cd /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins
>
> # ln -s /usr/java/j2re1.4.2_02/plugin/i386/ns610-gcc32/libjavaplugin_oji.so
> # ln -s /usr/java/j2sdk1.4.2_02/jre/plugin/i386/ns610-gcc32/libjavaplugin_oji.so
>
> # ls -l
> total NNNN
> ...
> lrwxrwxrwx    1 root     root    72 Dec  2 06:46 libjavaplugin_oji.so -> /usr/java/j2sdk1.4.2_02/jre/plugin/i386/ns610-gcc32/libjavaplugin_oji.so
> ...
>
> That's it.

or is it?

Hi Robert (Doc),

Great intro to -howto? that's what I like to see for me a newbie at
Fedora, not just "man" something or see link url. These finer points are
what newbies can appreciate and follow instructions and realize that's
it's not just RPM. Not all RPMS are thorough and do what people think
they should simply do. Newbies can now get their linux legs started.

A couple of questions to a newbie (me especially) on using RPM's.

How do you know you have Java and which version or want to upgrade?

Should you not check to see if you have Java installed?
and what would that command be ( > rpm -q java) ????

And if you have it, what would be the appropriate command for upgrade 
( > rpm -u or -U *.rpm)

About plugin's - will you still have to modify the links (ln)? and 
will the links stay on reboot?

2nd last point, how can I test to see if Java is executing the proper
version or has been installed? Which comes back to the first question?

Lastly, how do I do a cleanup or remove old/previous version of Java or
I don't - because there may be programs that have been linked to this
dir?

Thanks

Chris Cz
> --Doc Savage
>   Fairview Heights, IL
> --
> fedora-list mailing list
> [e-mail]
> To unsubscribe: http://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/fedora-list

[Robert G. (Doc) Savage]

On Monday December 15, 2003 Chris A Czerwinski 
wrote:
> On Sun, 2003-12-14 at 22:19, Robert G. (Doc) Savage wrote:
> > Dave,
> >
> > Here's a micro-howto I use. It includes instructions for either J2
> > Runtime Edition or J2 System Developer's Kit. Pick one.

[snip]
> > That's it.
>
> or is it?
>
> Hi Robert (Doc),
>
> Great intro to -howto? that's what I like to see for me a newbie at
> Fedora, not just "man" something or see link url. These finer points are
> what newbies can appreciate and follow instructions and realize that's
> it's not just RPM. Not all RPMS are thorough and do what people think
> they should simply do. Newbies can now get their linux legs started.
>
> A couple of questions to a newbie (me especially) on using RPM's.
>
> How do you know you have Java and which version or want to upgrade?

There are several ways to tell.
1. Search your (biological) memory. Do you remember installing it? :-)
2. $ /usr/java/j2sdk1.4.2_02/bin/java -version
   java version "1.4.2_02"
   Java(TM) 2 Runtime Environment, Standard Edition (build 1.4.2_02-b03)
   Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 1.4.2_02-b03, mixed mode)
3. In Mozilla click on Help -> About Plug-ins and look for:
   Java(TM) Plug-in 1.4.2_02-b03
   File name: libjavaplugin_oji.so
   Java(TM) Plug-in 1.4.2_02
> Should you not check to see if you have Java installed?
> and what would that command be ( > rpm -q java) ???

There's a trick here, and that's knowing to search for 'j2' rather than
'java':
   $ rpm -qa | grep j2
   j2sdk-1.4.2_02-fcs
> And if you have it, what would be the appropriate command for upgrade  (
> > rpm -u or -U *.rpm)

Actually I like to use -F (for 'freshen'). Think of this as an enhanced -U
upgrade:

# rpm -Fvh newrelease-X.X.X.i386.rpm
> About plugin's - will you still have to modify the links (ln)? and  will
> the links stay on reboot?

If you install the link in the generic /usr/java/mozilla directory, you
will not have to re-install after each Mozilla upgrade. If you install it
in the specific /usr/java/mozilla-xxxx directory, it won't be available to
an upgrade. Simple as that.
> 2nd last point, how can I test to see if Java is executing the proper
> version or has been installed? Which comes back to the first question?

Asked and answered.
> Lastly, how do I do a cleanup or remove old/previous version of Java or
> I don't - because there may be programs that have been linked to this
> dir?

If you upgrade to a later J2 release, RPM will take care of the
housekeeping. The same is true if you use RPM to remove the current
version prior to a fresh install. Remember to use 'rpm -qa | grep j2'
before running 'rpm -e ___' to get the exact name of the J2 package to
remove. As stated above, if you link to the generic /usr/java/mozilla
directory, your new Mozilla will have access to your installed java.

RPM is your friend. Spend an evening with 'man rpm'. Do the same with
'up2date'. Then look in the list archives to see how to install 'apt' and
'synaptic'. As good as RPM and up2date are, apt is better.

*****

Now, some non-java stuff for newbies:
1. Be kind to list members with limited bandwidth and trim away all excess
from your replies.
2. Put your replies at the bottom. Top posting excites several members.
3. Don't change the subject without changing the Subject:.
4. Lurk, search, and read before posting. You'll learn a lot for free.

Hope this helps....

--Doc Savage
  Fairview Heights, IL