How to Install Oracle Java on Ubuntu Linux

Steps

Check to see if your Ubuntu Linux operating system architecture is 32-bit or 64-bit, open up a terminal and run the following command below. Type/Copy/Paste: file /sbin/init Note the bit version of your Ubuntu Linux operating system architecture it will display whether it is 32-bit or 64-bit.

Check if you have Java installed on your system. To do this, you will have to run the Java version command from terminal. Open up a terminal and enter the following command: Type/Copy/Paste: java -version If you have OpenJDK installed on your system it may look like this: java version "1.7.0_15"OpenJDK Runtime Environment (IcedTea6 1.10pre) (7b15~pre1-0lucid1) OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM (build 19.0-b09, mixed mode) If you have OpenJDK installed on your system, you have the wrong vendor version of Java installed for this exercise.

Completely remove the OpenJDK/JRE from your system and create a directory to hold your Oracle Java JDK/JRE binaries. This will prevent system conflicts and confusion between different vendor versions of Java. For example, if you have the OpenJDK/JRE installed on your system, you can remove it by typing the following at the command line: Type/Copy/Paste: sudo apt-get purge openjdk-\* This command will completely remove OpenJDK/JRE from your system Type/Copy/Paste: sudo mkdir -p /usr/local/java This command will create a directory to hold your Oracle Java JDK and JRE binaries.

Download the Oracle Java JDK/JRE for Linux. Make sure you select the correct compressed binaries for your system architecture 32-bit or 64-bit (which end in tar.gz). For example, if you are on Ubuntu Linux 32-bit operating system download 32-bit Oracle Java binaries. For example, if you are on Ubuntu Linux 64-bit operating system download 64-bit Oracle Java binaries. Optional, Download the Oracle Java JDK/JRE Documentation Select jdk-7u40-apidocs.zip Important Information: 64-bit Oracle Java binaries do not work on 32-bit Ubuntu Linux operating systems, you will receive multiple system error messages, if you attempt to install 64-bit Oracle Java on 32-bit Ubuntu Linux.

Copy the Oracle Java binaries into the /usr/local/java directory. In most cases, the Oracle Java binaries are downloaded to: /home/"your_user_name"/Downloads. 32-bit Oracle Java on 32-bit Ubuntu Linux installation instructions: Type/Copy/Paste: cd ~/Downloads Type/Copy/Paste: sudo cp -r jdk-7u45-linux-i586.tar.gz /usr/local/java Type/Copy/Paste: sudo cp -r jre-7u45-linux-i586.tar.gz /usr/local/java Type/Copy/Paste: cd /usr/local/java 64-bit Oracle Java on 64-bit Ubuntu Linux installation instructions: Type/Copy/Paste: cd ~/Downloads If you downloaded the JDK then Type/Copy/Paste: sudo cp -r jdk-7u45-linux-x64.tar.gz /usr/local/java Or if you downloaded the JRE then Type/Copy/Paste: sudo cp -r jre-7u45-linux-x64.tar.gz /usr/local/java Type/Copy/Paste: cd /usr/local/java

Unpack the compressed Java binaries, in the directory /usr/local/java 32-bit Oracle Java on 32-bit Ubuntu Linux installation instructions: Type/Copy/Paste: sudo tar xvzf jdk-7u45-linux-i586.tar.gz Type/Copy/Paste: sudo tar xvzf jre-7u45-linux-i586.tar.gz 64-bit Oracle Java on 64-bit Ubuntu Linux installation instructions: If you downloaded the JDK then Type/Copy/Paste: sudo tar xvzf jdk-7u45-linux-x64.tar.gz Or if you downloaded the JRE then Type/Copy/Paste: sudo tar xvzf jre-7u45-linux-x64.tar.gz

Double-check your directories. At this point, you should have one uncompressed binary directory in /usr/local/java for the Java JDK/JRE listed as: Type/Copy/Paste: ls -a jdk1.7.0_45 or jre1.7.0_45

Edit the system PATH file /etc/profile and add the following system variables to your system path. Use nano, gedit or any other text editor, as root, open up /etc/profile. Type/Copy/Paste: sudo gedit /etc/profile or Type/Copy/Paste: sudo nano /etc/profile

Scroll down to the end of the file using your arrow keys and add the following lines below to the end of your /etc/profile file: If you are installing the JDK then Type/Copy/Paste:JAVA_HOME=/usr/local/java/jdk1.7.0_45JRE_HOME=$JAVA_HOME/jrePATH=$PATH:$JAVA_HOME/bin:$JRE_HOME/binexport JAVA_HOMEexport JRE_HOMEexport PATH Or if you are installing the JRE then Type/Copy/Paste:JRE_HOME=/usr/local/java/jre1.7.0_45PATH=$PATH:$JRE_HOME/binexport JRE_HOMEexport PATH Save the /etc/profile file and exit.

Inform your Ubuntu Linux system where your Oracle Java JDK/JRE is located. This will tell the system that the new Oracle Java version is available for use. If you are installing the JDK then Type/Copy/Paste: sudo update-alternatives --install "/usr/bin/java" "java" "/usr/local/java/jdk1.7.0_45/jre/bin/java" 1 Or if you are installing the JRE then Type/Copy/Paste: sudo update-alternatives --install "/usr/bin/java" "java" "/usr/local/java/jre1.7.0_45/bin/java" 1 this command notifies the system that Oracle Java JRE is available for use Only if you are installing the JDK then Type/Copy/Paste: sudo update-alternatives --install "/usr/bin/java" "java" "/usr/local/java/jdk1.7.0_45/bin/java" 1 this command notifies the system that Oracle Java JDK is available for use Type/Copy/Paste: sudo update-alternatives --install "/usr/bin/javaws" "javaws" "/usr/local/java/jre1.7.0_45/bin/javaws" 1 this command notifies the system that Oracle Java Web start is available for use

Inform your Ubuntu Linux system that Oracle Java JDK/JRE must be the default Java. If you are installing the JDK then Type/Copy/Paste: sudo update-alternatives --set java /usr/local/java/jdk1.7.0_45/jre/bin/java Or if you are installing the JRE then Type/Copy/Paste: sudo update-alternatives --set java /usr/local/java/jre1.7.0_45/bin/java this command will set the java runtime environment for the system Only if you are installing the JDK then Type/Copy/Paste: sudo update-alternatives --set java /usr/local/java/jdk1.7.0_45/bin/java this command will set the java compiler for the system If you are installing the JDK then Type/Copy/Paste: sudo update-alternatives --set javaws /usr/local/java/jdk1.7.0_45/bin/javaws Or if you are installing the JRE then Type/Copy/Paste: sudo update-alternatives --set javaws /usr/local/java/jre1.7.0_45/bin/javaws this command will set Java Web start for the system

Reload your system wide PATH /etc/profile by typing the following command: Type/Copy/Paste: . /etc/profile Note your system-wide PATH /etc/profile file will reload after reboot of your Ubuntu Linux system

Test to see if Oracle Java was installed correctly on your system. Run the following commands and note the version of Java:A successful installation of 32-bit Oracle Java will display: Type/Copy/Paste: java -version. This command displays the version of java running on your system. You should receive a message which displays: java version "1.7.0_45"Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.7.0_45-b18) Java HotSpot(TM) Server VM (build 24.45-b08, mixed mode) Type/Copy/Paste: java -version. This command lets you know that you are now able to compile Java programs from the terminal. You should receive a message which displays: java 1.7.0_45. A successful installation of Oracle Java 64-bit will display: Type/Copy/Paste: java -version. This command displays the version of java running on your system. You should receive a message which displays: java version "1.7.0_45"Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.7.0_45-b18) Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 24.45-b08, mixed mode) Type/Copy/Paste: java -version. This command lets you know that you are now able to compile Java programs from the terminal. You should receive a message which displays: java 1.7.0_45

Congratulations, you just installed Oracle Java on your Linux system. Now reboot your Ubuntu Linux system. Afterwards, your system will be fully configured for running and developing Java programs. Later on you may want to try compiling and running your own Java programs by following this article How to Create your First Java Program on Ubuntu Linux

Google Chrome

Issue the following commands. Type/Copy/Paste: sudo mkdir -p /opt/google/chrome/plugins this will create a directory called /opt/google/chrome/plugins Type/Paste/Copy: cd /opt/google/chrome/plugins this will change you into the google chrome plugins directory,make sure you are in this directory before you make the symbolic link Type/Paste/Copy: sudo ln -s /usr/local/java/jre1.7.0_45/lib/i386/libnpjp2.so this will create a symbolic link from the Java JRE( Java Runtime Environment ) plugin libnpjp2.so to your Google Chrome web browser

Issue the following commands. Type/Copy/Paste: sudo mkdir -p /opt/google/chrome/plugins this will create a directory called /opt/google/chrome/plugins Type/Paste/Copy: cd /opt/google/chrome/plugins this will change you into the google chrome plugins directory,make sure you are in this directory before you make the symbolic link Type/Paste/Copy: sudo ln -s /usr/local/java/jre1.7.0_45/lib/amd64/libnpjp2.so this will create a symbolic link from the Java JRE( Java Runtime Environment ) plugin libnpjp2.so to your Google Chrome web browser

Note: Sometimes when you issue the above command you may receive a message which states: ln: creating symbolic link `./libnpjp2.so': File exists To correct this issue simply remove the previous symbolic link using the following command: Type/Copy/Paste: cd /opt/google/chrome/plugins Type/Copy/Paste: sudo rm -rf libnpjp2.so Make sure you are in the /opt/google/chrome/plugins directory before you issue the command

Restart your web browser and go to Java Tester to test if Java is functioning in your web browser.

Mozilla Firefox

Issue the following commands. Type/Paste/Copy: cd /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins this will change you into the directory /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins, create this directory if you do not have it Type/Paste/Copy: sudo mkdir -p /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins this will create the directory /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins, make sure you are in this directory before you make the symbolic link Type/Paste/Copy: sudo ln -s /usr/local/java/jre1.7.0_45/lib/i386/libnpjp2.so this will create a symbolic link from the Java JRE( Java Runtime Environment ) plugin libnpjp2.so to your Mozilla Firefox web browser

Issue the following commands. Type/Paste/Copy: cd /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins this will change you into the directory /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins, create this directory if you do not have it Type/Paste/Copy: sudo mkdir -p /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins this will create the directory /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins, make sure you are in this directory before you make the symbolic link Type/Paste/Copy: sudo ln -s /usr/local/java/jre1.7.0_45/lib/amd64/libnpjp2.so this will create a symbolic link from the Java JRE( Java Runtime Environment ) plugin libnpjp2.so to your Mozilla Firefox web browser

Note: Sometimes when you issue the above command you may receive a message which states: ln: creating symbolic link `./libnpjp2.so': File exists To correct this issue simply remove the previous symbolic link using the following command: Type/Copy/Paste: cd /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins Type/Copy/Paste: sudo rm -rf libnpjp2.so Make sure you are in the /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins directory before you issue the command

Restart your web browser and go to Java Tester to test if Java is functioning in your web browser.