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Benjamin
Asked: 2011-08-08 00:04:12 +0800 CST

How can I install Sun/Oracle's proprietary Java JDK 6/7/8 or JRE?

  • 772

I want to install Oracle's JRE and to update to the latest version with the Software Updater when they released. Is there a Ubuntu package that is provided by Canonical or Oracle?

Before release Java 7, I followed this way to install Java 6.

But it doesn't work for Java 7. There is no package sun-java7-xxx. How can you install Java 7?

java

28 Answers

  1. There is a similar answer on how to install JRE 7.

    Install Java JDK

    The manual way

    • Download the 32-bit or 64-bit Linux "compressed binary file" - it has a ".tar.gz" file extension.

    • Uncompress it

      tar -xvf jdk-8-linux-i586.tar.gz (32-bit)

      tar -xvf jdk-8-linux-x64.tar.gz (64-bit)

      The JDK 8 package is extracted into ./jdk1.8.0 directory. N.B.: Check carefully this folder name since Oracle seem to change this occasionally with each update.

    • Now move the JDK 8 directory to /usr/lib

      sudo mkdir -p /usr/lib/jvm
sudo mv ./jdk1.8.0 /usr/lib/jvm/

    • Now run

      sudo update-alternatives --install "/usr/bin/java" "java" "/usr/lib/jvm/jdk1.8.0/bin/java" 1
sudo update-alternatives --install "/usr/bin/javac" "javac" "/usr/lib/jvm/jdk1.8.0/bin/javac" 1
sudo update-alternatives --install "/usr/bin/javaws" "javaws" "/usr/lib/jvm/jdk1.8.0/bin/javaws" 1

      This will assign Oracle JDK a priority of 1, which means that installing other JDKs will replace it as the default. Be sure to use a higher priority if you want Oracle JDK to remain the default.

    • Correct the file ownership and the permissions of the executables:

      sudo chmod a+x /usr/bin/java
sudo chmod a+x /usr/bin/javac
sudo chmod a+x /usr/bin/javaws
sudo chown -R root:root /usr/lib/jvm/jdk1.8.0

      N.B.: Remember - Java JDK has many more executables that you can similarly install as above. java, javac, javaws are probably the most frequently required. This answer lists the other executables available.

    • Run

      sudo update-alternatives --config java

      You will see output similar to the one below - choose the number of jdk1.8.0 - for example 3 in this list (unless you have have never installed Java installed in your computer in which case a sentence saying "There is nothing to configure" will appear):

      $ sudo update-alternatives --config java
There are 3 choices for the alternative java (providing /usr/bin/java).

  Selection    Path                                            Priority   Status
------------------------------------------------------------
  0            /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-openjdk-amd64/jre/bin/java   1071      auto mode
  1            /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-openjdk-amd64/jre/bin/java   1071      manual mode
* 2            /usr/lib/jvm/jdk1.7.0/bin/java                   1         manual mode
  3            /usr/lib/jvm/jdk1.8.0/bin/java                   1         manual mode

Press enter to keep the current choice[*], or type selection number: 3
update-alternatives: using /usr/lib/jvm/jdk1.8.0/bin/java to provide /usr/bin/java (java) in manual mode

      Repeat the above for:

      sudo update-alternatives --config javac
sudo update-alternatives --config javaws

    Note for NetBeans users!

    You need to set the new JDK as default editing the configuration file.

    If you want to enable the Mozilla Firefox plugin:

    32 bit:
ln -s /usr/lib/jvm/jdk1.8.0/jre/lib/i386/libnpjp2.so ~/.mozilla/plugins/

64 bit:
ln -s /usr/lib/jvm/jdk1.8.0/jre/lib/amd64/libnpjp2.so ~/.mozilla/plugins/

    N.B.: You can link the plugin (libnpjp2.so) to /usr/lib/firefox/plugins/ for a system-wide installation (/usr/lib/firefox-addons/plugins from 15.04 onwards). For Ubuntu 13.10, the path to the plugin directory is /usr/lib/firefox/browser/plugins/.

    Depending on your configuration, you might need to update the apparmor profile for Firefox (or other browsers) in /etc/apparmor.d/abstractions/ubuntu-browsers.d/java:

    # Replace the two lines:
#  /usr/lib/jvm/java-*-sun-1.*/jre/bin/java{,_vm} cx -> browser_java,
#  /usr/lib/jvm/java-*-sun-1.*/jre/lib/*/libnp*.so cx -> browser_java,
# with those (or adapt to your new jdk folder name)
/usr/lib/jvm/jdk*/jre/bin/java{,_vm} cx -> browser_java,
/usr/lib/jvm/jdk*/jre/lib/*/libnp*.so cx -> browser_java,

    Then restart apparmor:

    sudo /etc/init.d/apparmor restart

    The easy way (Obsolete)

    Note: WebUpd8 team's PPA has been discontinued with effective from April 16, 2019. Thus this PPA doesn't have any Java files. More information can be found on PPA's page on Launchpad. Hence this method no longer works and exists because of hostorical reasons.

    The easiest way to install the JDK 7 is to do it with the Web Up8 Oracle Java OOS. However, it is believed that this PPA is sometimes out of date. Also note the dangers of using a PPA.

    This installs JDK 7 (which includes Java JDK, JRE and the Java browser plugin):

    sudo apt-get install python-software-properties
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:webupd8team/java
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install oracle-java7-installer
# or if you want JDK 8:
# sudo apt-get install oracle-java8-installer
# these commands install Oracle JDK7/8 and set them as default VMs automatically:
# sudo apt-get install oracle-java7-set-default
# sudo apt-get install oracle-java8-set-default

    Source

    N.B.: Before someone screams this is against the Oracle redistribution license - the PPA does not actually have Java in the personal repository. Instead, the PPA directly downloads from Oracle and installs it.

    The Script way

    If you're on a fresh installation of Ubuntu with no previous Java installations, this script automates the process outlined above if you don't want to type all that into a console. Remember, you still need to download Java from Oracle's website -- Oracle's links are not wget friendly.

    Before using this make sure that this script is in the same directory as the .tar.gz file extension that you downloaded and there are no files that start with jdk-7 in the same folder. If there are, please move them out of the folder temporarily. Remember to make the script executable (chmod +x <script's file>).

    #!/bin/sh

tar -xvf jdk-7*
sudo mkdir /usr/lib/jvm
sudo mv ./jdk1.7* /usr/lib/jvm/jdk1.7.0
sudo update-alternatives --install "/usr/bin/java" "java" "/usr/lib/jvm/jdk1.7.0/bin/java" 1
sudo update-alternatives --install "/usr/bin/javac" "javac" "/usr/lib/jvm/jdk1.7.0/bin/javac" 1
sudo update-alternatives --install "/usr/bin/javaws" "javaws" "/usr/lib/jvm/jdk1.7.0/bin/javaws" 1
sudo chmod a+x /usr/bin/java
sudo chmod a+x /usr/bin/javac
sudo chmod a+x /usr/bin/javaws

    If you want to install the plugin for Firefox then add this to the end of the script:

    mkdir ~/.mozilla/plugins
ln -s /usr/lib/jvm/jdk1.7.0/jre/lib/amd64/libnpjp2.so ~/.mozilla/plugins/
sudo /etc/init.d/apparmor restart

    Check if installation was successful

    You can check if the installation succeeded with the following command:

    java -version

    You should see something like

    java version "1.8.0"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0-b132)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.0-b70, mixed mode)

    You can check if the JRE Mozilla plugin has been successful by using the official oracle website.

    For Java 6: How do I install Oracle JDK 6?

    • 904

  2. There is a similar answer on how to install JDK 8

    Install the JRE

    Download the 32-bit or 64-bit Linux "compressed binary file" - it has a ".tar.gz" file extension and uncompress it

    tar -xvf jre-7-linux-i586.tar.gz

    The JRE 7 package is extracted into ./jre1.7.0 directory. Now move the JRE 7 directory to /usr/lib:

    sudo mv ./jre1.7.0* /usr/lib/jvm/jre1.7.0

    Afterwards, run the following to get a list of currently installed Java alternatives.

    sudo update-alternatives --config java

    You will get output as:

    There are 2 choices for the alternative java (providing /usr/bin/java).

Selection Path Priority Status
————————————————————
* 0 /usr/lib/jvm/java-6-openjdk/jre/bin/java 1061 auto mode
1 /usr/lib/jvm/java-6-openjdk/jre/bin/java 1061 manual mode
2 /usr/lib/jvm/java-6-sun/jre/bin/java 63 manual mode

Press enter to keep the current choice[*], or type selection number:

    Remember the last number and press enter to exit this utility i.e. in this example remember the number 2.

    If only one alternative is shown then remember the number 0.

    sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/java java /usr/lib/jvm/jre1.7.0/bin/java 3

    This will add your new JRE 7 installation into the alternatives list i.e. use the remembered number + 1, that is, 3 in the example above. Now configure Java to use the Oracle Java JRE:

    sudo update-alternatives --config java

    You will see output similar one below - choose the number of jre1.7.0, that is, 3:

    There are 3 choices for the alternative java (providing /usr/bin/java).

Selection Path Priority Status
————————————————————
* 0 /usr/lib/jvm/java-6-openjdk/jre/bin/java 1061 auto mode
1 /usr/lib/jvm/java-6-openjdk/jre/bin/java 1061 manual mode
2 /usr/lib/jvm/java-6-sun/jre/bin/java 63 manual mode
3 /usr/lib/jvm/jre1.7.0/jre/bin/java 3 manual mode

Press enter to keep the current choice[*], or type selection number: 3
update-alternatives: using /usr/lib/jvm/jre1.7.0/jre/bin/java to provide /usr/bin/java (java) in manual mode.

    N.B.: If there was no previous Java installation then the new JRE will be the default and you will not see the above.

    Check the version of you new JRE 7 installation:

    java -version

    It should produce

    java version “1.7.0”
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.7.0-b147)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 21.0-b17, mixed mode)

    Install the Firefox/Chrome plugin

    In a terminal:

    mkdir ~/.mozilla/plugins

    Remove the IcedTea plugin, if it has been installed.

    sudo apt-get remove icedtea6-plugin

    Remove a former version of the Java plugin (may or may not be present):

    rm ~/.mozilla/plugins/libnpjp2.so

    Now you can install the plugin, by creating a symbolic link (you tell Firefox, where the plugin is located). For 32-bit Java use

    ln -s /usr/lib/jvm/jre1.7.0/lib/i386/libnpjp2.so ~/.mozilla/plugins/

    For 64-bit Java use

    ln -s /usr/lib/jvm/jre1.7.0/lib/amd64/libnpjp2.so ~/.mozilla/plugins/

    Confirm that the JRE has been successful by using the official oracle website.

    • 172

  3. Here is a tested and working solution for installing Oracle JDK 7 and all its files so "javac" and everything else works: How To Install Oracle Java 7 (JDK) In Ubuntu

    Here are the commands (just for convenience):

    1. Download the latest Oracle JDK 7 from here.
    2. Extract the downloaded Oracle Java JDK archive in your home folder - a new folder called "jdk1.7.0_03" (for Java JDK7 update 3) should be created. Rename it to "java-7-oracle" and move it to /usr/lib/jvm using the following commands:
    cd
sudo mkdir -p /usr/lib/jvm/      #just in case
sudo mv java-7-oracle/ /usr/lib/jvm/

    3. Install Update Java package created by Bruce Ingalls (packages available for Ubuntu 11.10, 11.04, 10.10 and 10.04):

    sudo add-apt-repository ppa:nilarimogard/webupd8
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install update-java

    4. Now run the following command in a terminal to install Oracle Java JDK:

    sudo update-java

    Select the Java Version that you want to install and set as the default

    After a few minutes, Oracle Java JDK should be successfully installed on your Ubuntu machine. You can check out the version by running these commands in a terminal:

    java -version
javac -version

    NOTICE! This part below here of this answer no longer works due to Java changing how their binaries are released. It has been left as-is for historical reasons.

    Update Oracle has released Java 8 (stable). To install it, use the following commands:

    sudo add-apt-repository ppa:webupd8team/java
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install oracle-java8-installer

    More information @ WebUpd8: Install Oracle Java 8 In Ubuntu Via PPA Repository [JDK8]

    • 99

  4. NOTICE! This solution no longer works due to Java changing how their binaries are released. As a result, this answer is no longer valid. It has been left as-is for historical reasons.

    From http://www.webupd8.org/2012/01/install-oracle-java-jdk-7-in-ubuntu-via.html :

    sudo apt-get install python-software-properties
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:webupd8team/java
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install oracle-jdk7-installer
    • 94

  5. This is how I installed it in Oneiric just now. It will be a rather lengthy answer, but it worked for me.

    Download latest Java SDK 1.7.0 from Oracle. Then extract it to /usr/lib/jvm:

    cd /usr/lib/jvm/
sudo tar -xvzf ~/jdk-7-linux-x64.tar.gz
sudo mv jdk1.7.0 java-7-oracle
sudo ln -s java-7-oracle java-1.7.0-oracle

    After that I created .java-1.7.0-oracle.jinfo file in /usr/lib/jvm with the following contents:

    alias=java-7-oracle
priority=100
section=non-free

jre ControlPanel /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/jre/bin/ControlPanel
jre java /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/jre/bin/java
jre java_vm /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/jre/bin/java_vm
jre javaws /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/jre/bin/javaws
jre jcontrol /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/jre/bin/jcontrol
jre keytool /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/jre/bin/keytool
jre pack200 /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/jre/bin/pack200
jre policytool /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/jre/bin/policytool
jre rmid /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/jre/bin/rmid
jre rmiregistry /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/jre/bin/rmiregistry
jre unpack200 /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/jre/bin/unpack200
jre orbd /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/jre/bin/orbd
jre servertool /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/jre/bin/servertool
jre tnameserv /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/jre/bin/tnameserv
jre jexec /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/jre/lib/jexec
jdk appletviewer /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/appletviewer
jdk apt /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/apt
jdk extcheck /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/extcheck
jdk idlj /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/idlj
jdk jar /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/jar
jdk jarsigner /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/jarsigner
jdk java-rmi.cgi /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/java-rmi.cgi
jdk javac /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/javac
jdk javadoc /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/javadoc
jdk javah /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/javah
jdk javap /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/javap
jdk jconsole /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/jconsole
jdk jdb /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/jdb
jdk jhat /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/jhat
jdk jinfo /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/jinfo
jdk jmap /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/jmap
jdk jps /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/jps
jdk jrunscript /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/jrunscript
jdk jsadebugd /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/jsadebugd
jdk jstack /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/jstack
jdk jstat /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/jstat
jdk jstatd /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/jstatd
jdk native2ascii /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/native2ascii
jdk rmic /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/rmic
jdk schemagen /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/schemagen
jdk serialver /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/serialver
jdk wsgen /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/wsgen
jdk wsimport /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/wsimport
jdk xjc /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/xjc
plugin xulrunner-1.9-javaplugin.so /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/jre/lib/amd64/libnpjp2.so
plugin mozilla-javaplugin.so /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/jre/lib/amd64/libnpjp2.so

    Then you need to tell update-alternatives about all the new stuff:

    $ sudo -sH
Password:
# update-alternatives --quiet --install /usr/lib/xulrunner-addons/plugins/libjavaplugin.so xulrunner-1.9-javaplugin.so /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/jre/lib/amd64/libnpjp2.so 100
# update-alternatives --quiet --install /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins/libjavaplugin.so mozilla-javaplugin.so /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/jre/lib/amd64/libnpjp2.so 100
# update-alternatives --quiet --install /usr/bin/appletviewer appletviewer /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/appletviewer 100 --slave /usr/share/man/man1/appletviewer.1 appletviewer.1 /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/man/man1/appletviewer.1
# update-alternatives --quiet --install /usr/bin/apt apt /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/apt 100 --slave /usr/share/man/man1/apt.1 apt.1 /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/man/man1/apt.1
# update-alternatives --quiet --install /usr/bin/extcheck extcheck /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/extcheck 100 --slave /usr/share/man/man1/extcheck.1 extcheck.1 /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/man/man1/extcheck.1
# update-alternatives --quiet --install /usr/bin/idlj idlj /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/idlj 100 --slave /usr/share/man/man1/idlj.1 idlj.1 /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/man/man1/idlj.1
# update-alternatives --quiet --install /usr/bin/jar jar /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/jar 100 --slave /usr/share/man/man1/jar.1 jar.1 /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/man/man1/jar.1
# update-alternatives --quiet --install /usr/bin/jarsigner jarsigner /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/jarsigner 100 --slave /usr/share/man/man1/jarsigner.1 jarsigner.1 /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/man/man1/jarsigner.1
# update-alternatives --quiet --install /usr/bin/javac javac /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/javac 100 --slave /usr/share/man/man1/javac.1 javac.1 /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/man/man1/javac.1
# update-alternatives --quiet --install /usr/bin/javadoc javadoc /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/javadoc 100 --slave /usr/share/man/man1/javadoc.1 javadoc.1 /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/man/man1/javadoc.1
# update-alternatives --quiet --install /usr/bin/javah javah /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/javah 100 --slave /usr/share/man/man1/javah.1 javah.1 /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/man/man1/javah.1
# update-alternatives --quiet --install /usr/bin/javap javap /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/javap 100 --slave /usr/share/man/man1/javap.1 javap.1 /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/man/man1/javap.1
# update-alternatives --quiet --install /usr/bin/jconsole jconsole /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/jconsole 100 --slave /usr/share/man/man1/jconsole.1 jconsole.1 /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/man/man1/jconsole.1
# update-alternatives --quiet --install /usr/bin/jdb jdb /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/jdb 100 --slave /usr/share/man/man1/jdb.1 jdb.1 /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/man/man1/jdb.1
# update-alternatives --quiet --install /usr/bin/jhat jhat /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/jhat 100 --slave /usr/share/man/man1/jhat.1 jhat.1 /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/man/man1/jhat.1
# update-alternatives --quiet --install /usr/bin/jinfo jinfo /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/jinfo 100 --slave /usr/share/man/man1/jinfo.1 jinfo.1 /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/man/man1/jinfo.1
# update-alternatives --quiet --install /usr/bin/jmap jmap /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/jmap 100 --slave /usr/share/man/man1/jmap.1 jmap.1 /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/man/man1/jmap.1
# update-alternatives --quiet --install /usr/bin/jps jps /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/jps 100 --slave /usr/share/man/man1/jps.1 jps.1 /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/man/man1/jps.1
# update-alternatives --quiet --install /usr/bin/jrunscript jrunscript /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/jrunscript 100 --slave /usr/share/man/man1/jrunscript.1 jrunscript.1 /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/man/man1/jrunscript.1
# update-alternatives --quiet --install /usr/bin/jsadebugd jsadebugd /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/jsadebugd 100 --slave /usr/share/man/man1/jsadebugd.1 jsadebugd.1 /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/man/man1/jsadebugd.1
# update-alternatives --quiet --install /usr/bin/jstack jstack /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/jstack 100 --slave /usr/share/man/man1/jstack.1 jstack.1 /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/man/man1/jstack.1
# update-alternatives --quiet --install /usr/bin/jstat jstat /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/jstat 100 --slave /usr/share/man/man1/jstat.1 jstat.1 /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/man/man1/jstat.1
# update-alternatives --quiet --install /usr/bin/jstatd jstatd /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/jstatd 100 --slave /usr/share/man/man1/jstatd.1 jstatd.1 /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/man/man1/jstatd.1
# update-alternatives --quiet --install /usr/bin/native2ascii native2ascii /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/native2ascii 100 --slave /usr/share/man/man1/native2ascii.1 native2ascii.1 /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/man/man1/native2ascii.1
# update-alternatives --quiet --install /usr/bin/rmic rmic /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/rmic 100 --slave /usr/share/man/man1/rmic.1 rmic.1 /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/man/man1/rmic.1
# update-alternatives --quiet --install /usr/bin/schemagen schemagen /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/schemagen 100 --slave /usr/share/man/man1/schemagen.1 schemagen.1 /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/man/man1/schemagen.1
# update-alternatives --quiet --install /usr/bin/serialver serialver /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/serialver 100 --slave /usr/share/man/man1/serialver.1 serialver.1 /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/man/man1/serialver.1
# update-alternatives --quiet --install /usr/bin/wsgen wsgen /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/wsgen 100 --slave /usr/share/man/man1/wsgen.1 wsgen.1 /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/man/man1/wsgen.1
# update-alternatives --quiet --install /usr/bin/wsimport wsimport /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/wsimport 100 --slave /usr/share/man/man1/wsimport.1 wsimport.1 /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/man/man1/wsimport.1
# update-alternatives --quiet --install /usr/bin/xjc xjc /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/xjc 100 --slave /usr/share/man/man1/xjc.1 xjc.1 /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/man/man1/xjc.1
# update-alternatives --quiet --install /usr/bin/java-rmi.cgi java-rmi.cgi /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/java-rmi.cgi 100
# update-alternatives --quiet --install /usr/bin/ControlPanel ControlPanel /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/jre/bin/ControlPanel 100
# update-alternatives --quiet --install /usr/bin/java java /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/jre/bin/java 100
# update-alternatives --quiet --install /usr/bin/java_vm java_vm /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/jre/bin/java_vm 100
# update-alternatives --quiet --install /usr/bin/javaws javaws /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/jre/bin/javaws 100
# update-alternatives --quiet --install /usr/bin/jcontrol jcontrol /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/jre/bin/jcontrol 100
# update-alternatives --quiet --install /usr/bin/keytool keytool /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/jre/bin/keytool 100
# update-alternatives --quiet --install /usr/bin/pack200 pack200 /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/jre/bin/pack200 100
# update-alternatives --quiet --install /usr/bin/policytool policytool /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/jre/bin/policytool 100
# update-alternatives --quiet --install /usr/bin/rmid rmid /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/jre/bin/rmid 100
# update-alternatives --quiet --install /usr/bin/rmiregistry rmiregistry /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/jre/bin/rmiregistry 100
# update-alternatives --quiet --install /usr/bin/unpack200 unpack200 /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/jre/bin/unpack200 100
# update-alternatives --quiet --install /usr/bin/orbd orbd /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/jre/bin/orbd 100
# update-alternatives --quiet --install /usr/bin/servertool servertool /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/jre/bin/servertool 100
# update-alternatives --quiet --install /usr/bin/tnameserv tnameserv /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/jre/bin/tnameserv 100
# update-alternatives --quiet --install /usr/bin/jexec jexec /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/jre/lib/jexec 100

    Now you can use update-alternatives to select newly installed Java SDK.

    # update-alternatives --config java              # Select java-1.7.0-oracle
# update-java-alternatives --set java-1.7.0-oracle
# exit
$

    This worked for me, if there is a more elegant way (without using third-party PPAs) I'd be glad to hear about it. I still need to test Firefox if I can run Java in it.

    • 40

  6. Note: WebUpd8 team's PPA has been discontinued with effective from April 16, 2019. Thus this PPA doesn't have any Java files. More information can be found on PPA's page on Launchpad. Hence this method no longer works and exists here only for historical reasons.

    An updated answer:

    I suggest using one of the installers from the webupd8team ppa in this way:

    1. Enter these 2 commands in the Terminal to add this PPA and update your packages list:

      sudo add-apt-repository ppa:webupd8team/java
sudo apt-get update

    2. Enter one (or more) of these commands to install the proprietary Java(s) you require:

      sudo apt-get install oracle-java6-installer
sudo apt-get install oracle-java7-installer
sudo apt-get install oracle-java8-installer
sudo apt-get install oracle-java9-installer

    3. When the respective Java installer script is loaded and then it downloads and installs the proprietary Java packages, you can also enter the following command to check the result of the installation:

      java -version

    You should then get a terminal output (for java8 stable version) like this:

    java version "1.8.0_72"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_72-b15)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.72-b15, mixed mode)

    Further info: http://www.webupd8.org/2012/09/install-oracle-java-8-in-ubuntu-via-ppa.html

    NB: These packages provide Oracle Java JDK, which includes Java JDK, JRE and the Java browser plugin. And the webupd8team/java PPA contains only these installers, which simply connect to Oracle Java download site and install the latest JDK.

    • 25

  7. Note: WebUpd8 team's PPA has been discontinued with effective from April 16, 2019. Thus this PPA doesn't have any Java files. More information can be found on PPA's page on Launchpad. Hence this method no longer works and exists because of historical reasons.

    I appreciate all the previous answers. I want to add this answer to simplify things which is done by www.webupd8.org to make installation in 2-5 minutes.

    This installation includes:

    sudo add-apt-repository ppa:webupd8team/java
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install oracle-java7-installer

    That's all!! Now to check the Java version

    java -version

    The output will be like

    java version "1.7.0_25"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.7.0_25-b15)
Java HotSpot(TM) Server VM (build 23.25-b01, mixed mode

    There may come a new version, and then you can simply update it with this command:

    sudo update-java-alternatives -s java-7-oracle

    Setting up environment variables

    sudo apt-get install oracle-java7-set-default

    For more, check out Install Oracle Java 7 in Ubuntu via PPA Repository.

    • 16

  8. This solution will give you clean built packages just as they used to ship with Ubuntu before Oracle came around.

    The answer

    First the answer, then the explanation. Open a terminal and copy and paste the following, line by line.

    wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ladios/oab-java6/master/oab-java.sh -O oab-java.sh
chmod +x oab-java.sh
sudo ./oab-java.sh

    This will build the official sun-java6-* packages and make them available in the software-center. If you also want oracle-java7-* packages, run the script like this:

    sudo ./oab-java.sh -7

    Now you can install the packages with your preferred package manager.

    The explanation

    When Oracle changed the distribution license for Java, Linux distributions weren't allowed to update the official packages anymore. Github user rraptorr took the Debian script that was used to build the packages until then, and modified it to work with the updated downloads from Oracle. He now provides packging scripts for SUN Java6 and Oracle Java7.

    The oab.java.sh script is just a wrapper that automatically downloads the current version, creates the packages and adds them to a local repository.

    Further notes

    Packages created and installed using this method, will not receive updates automatically - only when you rerun the script. You can circumvent this by creating a cronjob that runs this script on a regular basis. The savest way to do this is using anacron by putting the script in /etc/cron.daily.

    wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ladios/oab-java6/master/oab-java.sh -O /root/oab-java.sh
chmod +x /root/oab-java.sh
ln -s /root/oab-java.sh /etc/cron.daily/oab-java

    Now your official Java packages will always be up-to-date.

    • 15

  9. This worked for my development needs of being able to run/compile 1.6 or 1.7. Previously I was just running 1.6 from a Ubuntu apt package.

    1. Download 1.7 gzip.
    2. Extract to folder

    3. Update JAVA_HOME and PATH in bash file

      JAVA_HOME=/opt/java/jdk1.7.0_25
export JAVA_HOME

PATH=$JAVA_HOME/bin:$PATH
export PATH
    • 10

  10. On AMD64 you need modify a little the command to create the symbolic link:

    ln -s /usr/lib/jvm/jre1.7.0/lib/amd64/libnpjp2.so ~/.mozilla/plugins/

    only change the i386 to amd64.

    • 9