Which Java should I install

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#1

Hi
I’m running openSUSE 11.1 RC1 and have a question re java. In Firefox, at one address I get a message as follows:

additional plugins are required to display all the media on this page

So I follow the Firefox prompts and it leads me to the Sun download site where a number of options are offered including this generic RPM: jre-6ull-linux-i586-rpm.bin. Before I install this I check in Yast Software Management and search on “jre” to see what’s offered from the repositories and I see fourteen RPMs including these two: “java-1_6_0-openjdk” and “java-1_6_0-openjdk-plugin”.

Caution prompts me to ask here which RPMs should I install, Sun’s or openSUSE’s, and if openSUSE, which ones of the fourteen on offer?

Thanks
Swerdna

PS there’s also the “java-1_6_0-sun” and “java-1_6_0-sun-plugin” RPMs, maybe I should install those instead???

#2

I would have though the above (Bold) would already be installed. And would be my choice. The plugin will be 32 bit only, which will be fine if you are 32 not 64. I don’t get the plugin on my _64 box.
But both my machines use the above. Though I am OS11.0

Hope that helps

#3

The jdk versions are for the java development kit. You shouldn’t need those unless you plan to do development. As long as you don’t object to the continuing FOSS issues with Sun Java, you want the java-1_6_0-sun (base java runtime environment) and java-1_6_0-sun-plugin (plugin for browser) packages. I think there are parallel completely open source versions now, but I don’t know how mature/stable they are.

#4

Hi
I normally just install java-1_6_0-sun and java-1_6_0-sun-plugin.

–
Cheers Malcolm °¿° (Linux Counter #276890)
openSUSE 11.0 x86 Kernel 2.6.25.18-0.2-default
up 1:44, 3 users, load average: 0.01, 0.31, 0.47
GPU GeForce 6600 TE/6200 TE - Driver Version: 177.82

#5

Ok thanks all of you.

I do recall from my very early days in Suse Linux using Jem Matzan’s excellent articles: Hacking Suse Linux 10.0 et seq, where the sun RPMs were recomended – and you’ve reinforced that. In my download of 11.1 RC1, no java was installed automatically, even though it was installed auto in 11.0 final. I suppose this is just another last minute thing for the packagers to wrap into 11.1 GM.

Anyway – problem solved, thanks

#6

with me, with 11.1RC Java was in the list of things that it wanted to grab when it did it’s first update. I still haven’t seen a need for java so have blocked that, along with the pile of gnome features it wants to download. I see no reason when using KDE to have those gnome features, hmmmm.