How to update Java on Sorcerer

Here’s a how-to for technically advanced users who need to update the Java platform on Sorcerer. It’s not required for the base Sorcerer software, including ScaffoldBatch, but it may be necessary for Phenyx installation. Please consult our technical support staff before deciding to do the update.

These instructions assume that you have a recent 64-bit Sorcerer operating platform (either RHEL 5.2 or Centos 5-based), and that your Sorcerer software is at V3.5.

Here are the steps:

1. Get the latest Java Development Kit (JDK)  (currently v6 update 18) from http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/index.jsp. Click on the ‘Download JDK’ button. Get the Linux x64 platform, and download the non-rpm file which has a name like jdk-6u18-linux-x64.bin
2. Log in as root in a terminal window and type: cd /opt
3. Copy the file you downloaded to /opt, and unpack it:  /bin/sh jdk-6u18-linux-x64.bin
4. Note the name of the pathname to java in the unpacked directory for use in the next step, e.g. /opt/jdk1.6.0_18/bin/java
5. Type:  /usr/sbin/alternatives --install /usr/bin/java java /opt/jdk1.6.0_18/bin/java 2
   • This sets up a system of links from /usr/bin/java to the new installation
6. Type: /usr/sbin/alternatives --config java
   • Enter ‘2′ at the prompt to select the newly installed alternative
7. Check you have the latest java by typing:  java -version

(Optional) Update Firefox Java plugin:

1. Create a plugins directory in the Firefox installation directory if the plugins directory does not exist. Please check your version of Firefox to determine the correct path to use: mkdir /usr/lib64/firefox-3.x.x/plugins
2. Create a symbolic link to the new Java plugin. Again please check your Firefox and JRE version for the correct paths: ln -s /opt/jdk1.6.0_18/jre/lib/amd64/libnpjp2.so /usr/lib64/firefox-3.0.5/plugins/