Oracle java jre7u4 problem

[weha]

Here is something I don't understand. OS is Kubuntu 12.04 (64bit).
I downloaded the jre-7u4-linux-x64.tar.gz and seeing that Oracle says:

The archive binary can be installed by anyone (not only root users), in any location that you can write to. However, only the root user can install the JRE into the system location.

I created a directory 'java' in home untarred the archive there then: sudo update-alternatives --install "/usr/bin/java" "java" "/home/me/java/jre1.7.0_04/bin/java" 1
folowed by sudo update-alternatives --set java /home/me/java/jre1.7.0_04/bin/java
java -version (displayed correct)
sudo update-alternatives --config java (all OK-pressed enter to confirm)
However it does not work, doesn't load and errors in console.

The strange thing is that jre-7u3 works perfectly.

Please note that I don't want jdk only jre. Also Opera browser will not use the runtime from openjdk.

Perhaps someone can confirm my problem with 7u4 or come up with an idea as to what could be the problem ?

[james147]

Anything wrong with the openjdk version in the repos? (Install default-jre and icedtea-plugin for browser support)

[weha]

Anything wrong with the openjdk version in the repos? (Install default-jre and icedtea-plugin for browser support)

No nothing wrong with that. Thing is I use Opera 95% of the time and last time I checked it is unable to load the plugin.
I don't need the plugin in Firefox as I don't use Firefox for java; except to view my statements with the infoslipsViewer which requires java and works with Firefox
as long as java jre is installed on the OS.
I would really be interested in why Oracle's jre-7u3 works perfectly and jre-7u4, although installed in the same way does not.

If all else fails I will do as you suggest.

[alesandro]

Well, I'm using jre-7u4 with no problem. I did a way diferent. Untar the file anywhere you want and in Konsole.

sudo ln -s /"directory-you-untared"/jre1.7.0_04/bin/* /usr/local/bin
sudo ln -s /"directory-you-untared"/jre1.7.0_04/lib/i386/libnpjp2.so /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins

Restart firefox and post results. If it doesn't work, look at the owner of the untarred files and directories. May be required change it to root to allow executing.

[weha]

Well, I'm using jre-7u4 with no problem. I did a way diferent. Untar the file anywhere you want and in Konsole.

sudo ln -s /"directory-you-untared"/jre1.7.0_04/bin/* /usr/local/bin
sudo ln -s /"directory-you-untared"/jre1.7.0_04/lib/i386/libnpjp2.so /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins

Restart firefox and post results. If it doesn't work, look at the owner of the untarred files and directories. May be required change it to root to allow executing.

Thanks for your input, but wow, all those softlinks that will be created by your first line ? Doesn't sound right to me.
Anyway I tried again, this time untarring to /usr/local/ .. I knew in advance that it wouldn't work Here some output:-

severin@severin-desktop:/$ sudo update-alternatives --install "/usr/bin/java" "java" "/usr/local/jre1.7.0_04/bin/java" 1
severin@severin-desktop:/$ sudo update-alternatives --set java /usr/local/jre1.7.0_04/bin/java
update-alternatives: using /usr/local/jre1.7.0_04/bin/java to provide /usr/bin/java (java) in manual mode.
severin@severin-desktop:/$ java -version
java version "1.7.0_04"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.7.0_04-b20)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 23.0-b21, mixed mode)

severin@severin-desktop:/$ sudo update-alternatives --config java
There are 2 choices for the alternative java (providing /usr/bin/java).

Selection Path Priority Status
------------------------------------------------------------
0 /home/severin/java/jre1.7.0_03/bin/java 1 auto mode
1 /home/severin/java/jre1.7.0_03/bin/java 1 manual mode
* 2 /usr/local/jre1.7.0_04/bin/java 1 manual mode

Press enter to keep the current choice[*], or type selection number:
severin@severin-desktop:/$

Not working - see below.

Java Plug-in 10.0.0.20
Using JRE version 1.7.0_04-b20 Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM
User home directory = /home/severin
----------------------------------------------------
c: clear console window
f: finalize objects on finalization queue
g: garbage collect
h: display this help message
l: dump classloader list
m: print memory usage
o: trigger logging
q: hide console
r: reload policy configuration
s: dump system and deployment properties
t: dump thread list
v: dump thread stack
x: clear classloader cache
0-5: set trace level to <n>
----------------------------------------------------
I don't use java in Firefox, only in Opera. Version 7u3 works like a champ for everything that requires jre including LibreOffice.
I simply don't understand why 7u4 doesn't work for me. If I don't find an acceptable way I will be forced to install open sourced
from the repos.

[alesandro]

Thanks for your input, but wow, all those softlinks that will be created by your first line ? Doesn't sound right to me.

That make links to all executable files of jre, about 12, to be used by all applications, even Libreoffice and ControlPanel of java itself. But you can try this:

sudo ln -s /"directory-you-untared"/jre1.7.0_04/bin/java /usr/local/bin

severin@severin-desktop:/$ sudo update-alternatives --install "/usr/bin/java" "java" "/usr/local/jre1.7.0_04/bin/java" 1
severin@severin-desktop:/$ sudo update-alternatives --set java /usr/local/jre1.7.0_04/bin/java
update-alternatives: using /usr/local/jre1.7.0_04/bin/java to provide /usr/bin/java (java) in manual mode.
severin@severin-desktop:/$ java -version
java version "1.7.0_04"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.7.0_04-b20)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 23.0-b21, mixed mode)

severin@severin-desktop:/$ sudo update-alternatives --config java
There are 2 choices for the alternative java (providing /usr/bin/java).

Selection Path Priority Status
------------------------------------------------------------
0 /home/severin/java/jre1.7.0_03/bin/java 1 auto mode
1 /home/severin/java/jre1.7.0_03/bin/java 1 manual mode
* 2 /usr/local/jre1.7.0_04/bin/java 1 manual mode

Press enter to keep the current choice[*], or type selection number:
severin@severin-desktop:/$

Not working - see below.

Java Plug-in 10.0.0.20
Using JRE version 1.7.0_04-b20 Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM
User home directory = /home/severin
----------------------------------------------------
c: clear console window
f: finalize objects on finalization queue
g: garbage collect
h: display this help message
l: dump classloader list
m: print memory usage
o: trigger logging
q: hide console
r: reload policy configuration
s: dump system and deployment properties
t: dump thread list
v: dump thread stack
x: clear classloader cache
0-5: set trace level to <n>
----------------------------------------------------
I don't use java in Firefox, only in Opera. Version 7u3 works like a champ for everything that requires jre including LibreOffice.
I simply don't understand why 7u4 doesn't work for me. If I don't find an acceptable way I will be forced to install open sourced
from the repos.

In that point I can help not to much. I never tried this way. Sorry.