Installing the Java Plugin - a definitive guide

[worker201]

Note - this should be made a sticky, since so many people don't understand how to do this.

It's so easy to get Java going for Linux. You should, of course, have the most uptodate browser, which in this case is Firefox-1.0.6. These instructions were tested using Firefox and Fedora Core 2, 3, and 4. Really. Read through them first, and make sure you understand what each command is doing, and why. Then proceed. These instructions work: I have used them while writing this to upgrade from Java 1.5.0-02 to 1.5.0-04 - I copied the commands directly from the text editor into the terminal. It's foolproof, seriously. If you see a line that starts with a '%', that's a command that you should type in. Don't type in the percent sign, though - that's just a convenient shorthand for the terminal prompt.

1. Go to http://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp, and click on the download button for the very last choice, which is "Linux (self-extracting file)".

2. Your browser will ask you what you want to do with the file called jre-1_5_0_04-linux-i586.bin. Of course you want to save it on your hard drive somewhere - in the example, we'll be saving it in your home directory. Unless you don't have an Intel-based x86 processor - then you need to find another tutorial. If your processor is a i386, and not a i586, don't worry - it won't make a bit of difference - the proof can be seen in step #15 below. Close your browser after the download finishes.

3. Pop open a terminal, and go superuser (when prompted, give your root password):
% su
Password: *********

4. Make a directory called /usr/java:
% mkdir /usr/java

5. Enter that directory:
% cd /usr/java

6. Copy the file you saved into that directory:
% cp ~/jre-1_5_0_04-linux-i586.bin .
('~' means home, '.' means "copy to right here")

7. List the directory contents to verify the move:
% ls

8. Change the permissions of the script:
% chmod +x jre-1_5_0_04-linux-i586.bin

10. Run the self-extractor:
% ./jre-1_5_0_04-linux-i586.bin
('./' means "run it from right here")

9. List the directory, to verify the correct permissions:
% ls -l

10. Run the self-extractor:
% ./jre-1_5_0_04-linux-i586.bin
('./' means "run it from right here")

11. Read the license agreement, and press the spacebar if you see "More" at the bottom of the screen.

12. After the license agreement is done, it will ask you if you agree. To agree, type 'yes' and press enter. Watch as all the work is done for you.

13. Move to the Firefox plugins directory:
% cd /usr/lib/firefox-1.0.6/plugins

14. List the files there, just so you know:
% ls

15. Create a symbolic link to the Java plugin:
% ln -s /usr/java/jre1.5.0_4/plugin/i386/ns7/libjavaplugin_oji.so ./libjavaplugin_oji.so

16. List to verify:
% ls

17. Move to your .firefox plugins directory:
% cd /home/username/.firefox/plugins
(of course you have to substitute your own username...)

18. Make another symbolic link, using the exact same command as before:
% ln -s /usr/java/jre1.5.0_4/plugin/i386/ns7/libjavaplugin_oji.so ./libjavaplugin_oji.s

19. Exit from superuser mode:
% exit

All done. Enjoy Java on the web. For more info on the commands here, consult the manual pages. Example - 'man mkdir'. Or, if you're lazy, do a Google search for 'man mkdir' - many people have published manual pages to the web.

[worker201]

bumped, since it is still apparently an issue

[jens]

Nice and universal howto
Should really be added in "Linux Tutorials" section.

[usblackhawk]

[i]


4. Make a directory called /usr/java:
% mkdir /usr/java

every time i try to do that i get :

[root@localhost simplyskillz]# mkdir/usr/java
bash: mkdir/usr/java: No such file or directory

what do i do?

[worker201]

put a space in there:

mkdir_ _/usr/java
not
mkdir/usr/java

[usblackhawk]

ok thankyou

[usblackhawk]

Note - this should be made a sticky, since so many people don't understand how to do this.

6. Copy the file you saved into that directory:
% cp ~/jre-1_5_0_04-linux-i586.bin .
('~' means home, '.' means "copy to right here")

i get

[root@localhost java]# cp ~/jre-1_5_0_04-linux-i586.bin
cp: missing destination file
Try `cp --help' for more information.
[root@localhost java]#

what do i do?

[worker201]

You missed the period at the end of the command.

% cp ~/jre-1_5_0_04-linux-i586.bin .

In Linux, . means "here, in this directory". So you are copying the file to the directory you are in when you run the copy command. If that's not the directory you want to copy to, then add a destination:

% cp /usr/bin/thisthing /usr/share/thatthing

Also, .. means "the directory above this one". The following command will put you in /usr/local:

% cd /usr/local/bin
% cd ..

Mind your "punctuation".

[usblackhawk]

now i get this:

[root@localhost simplyskillz]# cd /usr/java
[root@localhost java]# cp ~/jre-1_5_0_04-linux-i586.bin .
cp: cannot stat `/root/jre-1_5_0_04-linux-i586.bin': No such file or directory
[root@localhost java]#

i dont understand it?

[worker201]

Try giving it the absolute path, instead of the ~ path. So wherever you saved the file. On my computer, it would be:

cp /home/lholcombe/jre-1_5_0_04-linux-i586.bin .

Since you are root, it is trying to copy from root's home. And you didn't save the file in root's home, did you?