ubuntu - java doesn't work

[hobey19]

i have installed Java runtime environment based on the directions on ubuntu guide but whenever i load a page in firefox requiring java (ie logmein), i get the pop-down saying additional plugins are needed. i hit install, and then it says that it cannot automatically install it, and wants me to manually install it. i know java is installed because it shows up under Applications->Internet.

any advice is appreciated
craig

[faulkner132]

When you installed Java, did you get the agreement popup? If not, try reinstalling it.

[kilgoretrout]

I read through your guide quickly, but I believe it specifically says that it will not update your browser plugins. If you look in /usr/lib/jvm/jre1.6.0/plugin/i386/ns7 you will see a file named "libjavaplugin_oji.so". You have to create a link to that file in your mozilla/plugins directory. I don't know where that firefox plugin directory is located in ubuntu as I don't have it installed at the moment. It's usually in /usr/lib/mozilla-firefox or /usr/lib/mozilla. But no matter where it is, the idea is the same; you have to create that link to libjavaplugin_oji.so in the firefox plugin directory and java will then work in firefox.

[hobey19]

faulkner: yes, i did get the agreement, it took over the terminal window until i agreed

kilgoretrout: i never did that, but it must have at some point, because libjavaplugin_oji.so is in the plugins folder

thanks

craig

[jglen490]

If you go into Firefox and in the URL entry box you type in:

about:plugins

does java show up. If not then the soft link is not set up correctly. Come on back, either way .

[hobey19]

nope, its not in there. what is the best way to go about making that link properly? thanks for the help jglen, its much appreciated

craig

[jglen490]

Sorry for the delay, it's been a busy day!

I would like you to open a terminal and cd to the /etc/alternatives directory. Then enter the following shown in BOLD:

john@john-laptop:/etc/alternatives$ ls -al fire*
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 59 2006-12-31 00:31 firefox-homepage -> /usr/share/doc/kde/HTML/en/kubuntu/about-kubuntu/index.html
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 56 2006-12-31 00:31 firefox-homepage-locales -> /usr/share/doc/kde/HTML/en/kubuntu/about-kubuntu/locales
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 68 2007-01-03 22:49 firefox-javaplugin.so -> /usr/lib/jvm/java-1.5.0-sun/jre/plugin/i386/ns7/libjavaplugin_oji.so
john@john-laptop:/etc/alternatives$

If your results are the same then someting really fishy is going on, or perhaps you pulled down the wrong Ubuntu package. You can still recover by checking to ensure that you actually do have the libjavaplugin_oji.so library file by entering the following as shown in BOLD:

john@john-laptop:/etc/alternatives$ sudo find / -name libjavaplugin*
/usr/lib/firefox/plugins/libjavaplugin.so
/usr/lib/jvm/java-1.5.0-sun-1.5.0.06/jre/lib/i386/libjavaplugin_jni.so
/usr/lib/jvm/java-1.5.0-sun-1.5.0.06/jre/lib/i386/libjavaplugin_nscp_gcc29.so
/usr/lib/jvm/java-1.5.0-sun-1.5.0.06/jre/lib/i386/libjavaplugin_nscp.so
/usr/lib/jvm/java-1.5.0-sun-1.5.0.06/jre/plugin/i386/ns7-gcc29/libjavaplugin_oji.so
/usr/lib/jvm/java-1.5.0-sun-1.5.0.06/jre/plugin/i386/ns7/libjavaplugin_oji.so
/usr/lib/mozilla/plugins/libjavaplugin.so
/usr/lib/mozilla-snapshot/plugins/libjavaplugin.so

Again see if the response is similar. I suspect it may show a different path to the libjavaplugin_oji.so file. If so make note of the actual location, or highlight and copy the path name that shows "/i386/ns7/" without the "gcc29" part.

Now cd to your mozilla plugins directory as shown:

john@john-laptop:~/.mozilla$ cd ~/.mozilla/plugins
john@john-laptop:~/.mozilla/plugins$ ls -a
.  ..  .DS_Store  flashplayer.xpt  libflashplayer.so  libnpsoplugin.so
john@john-laptop:~/.mozilla/plugins$

within that directory, enter (and replace my PATH with yours):

ln -s /usr/lib/jvm/java-1.5.0-sun-1.5.0.06/jre/plugin/i386/ns7/libjavaplugin_oji.so

Enter:

ls -al

and you should see a the link show up.

Go back to Firefox and in the URL box enter:

about:plugins

and hopefully it will show up in the plugins list.

If it doesn't, then go back to Ubuntu and pull down the Firefox Java Plugins file again.

Good luck, and happy Linux work!

[hobey19]

the link was not there, and i made the link as you said, but it still isn't in aboutlugins

i tried to install the plugin to no avail. i am probably going to remove all the java packages tomorrow and start from scratch. thanks for all your help

craig

[faulkner132]

Go to the terminal and type:

sudo firefox

This will open Firefox with root permissions.

Now go install the Java plugin from Sun's site and then close the browser once installation is complete.

[hobey19]

sorry for taking so long to get back to you, i didn't get an email saying someone had responded. i ended up completely removing everything and reinstalling and remaking the link, and all is well. i swear i didn't do anything differently, but apparently i did.

thanks for all of your help
craig

[jglen490]

Sometimes stuff just happens like that. Glad you're now on your way.