How to Update JDK on Oracle Enterprise Linux from Version 1.6 to 1.7

JDK is the environment to develop Java programs, and updating Java on Linux boxes is a requirement which often comes up. The following lists the steps required to update the JDK from version 1.6.0_22 to 1.7.0_21.

Step 1: Download the JDK rpm from the following link:

http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/jdk7-downloads-1880260.html

Step 2: The current JDK version is:

[root@test software]# java -version
java version “1.6.0_22”
OpenJDK Runtime Environment (IcedTea6 1.10.4) (rhel-1.41.1.10.4.el6-i386)
OpenJDK Client VM (build 20.0-b11, mixed mode)

Step 3: Run the following command to update the JDK:

rpm -Uvh jdk-7u21-linux-i586.rpm

[root@test software]# rpm -Uvh jdk-7u21-linux-i586.rpm
Preparing…                ########################################### [100%] 1:jdk                    ########################################### [100%] Unpacking JAR files…
rt.jar…
jsse.jar…
charsets.jar…
tools.jar…
localedata.jar…
plugin.jar…
javaws.jar…
deploy.jar…

Step 4: Check the version:

[root@test software]# java -version
java version “1.6.0_22”
OpenJDK Runtime Environment (IcedTea6 1.10.4) (rhel-1.41.1.10.4.el6-i386)
OpenJDK Client VM (build 20.0-b11, mixed mode)

Step 5: So the version is still pointing to the old one. We have to use the alternatives here to update the version. The newly installed Java is at this location /usr/java/jdk1.7.0_21/ :

[root@test bin]# pwd
/usr/java/jdk1.7.0_21/bin

[root@test bin]# /usr/sbin/alternatives –install /usr/bin/java java /usr/java/jdk1.7.0_21/bin/java 17021

Step 5: Now it should point to the latest version:

[root@test bin]# java -version
java version “1.7.0_21”
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.7.0_21-b11)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 23.21-b01, mixed mode, sharing)

That’s it !!!

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