Java is an object-oriented programming language developed by Sun Microsystems since 1991 and officially released on May 23, 1995. The new programming language was originally called Oak (James Gosling) and was developed for consumer electronics, but later it was renamed Java and began to be used for writing applets, applications and server software
A peculiarity of Java technology is a flexible security system due to the fact that the program execution is fully controlled by a virtual machine. Any operation that exceeds the program's established authority (e.g., attempting unauthorized access to data or connecting to another computer) causes an immediate interruption.
Installing the default JRE/JDK
We will use the version included in the Ubuntu package for installation. By default Ubuntu 18.04 package includes Open JDK (open source version of JRE and JDK).
This package installs version 10 or 11 of OpenJDK.
To install, update the package index:
``.shell
sudo apt update
Then you should check if the installation of Java has been done before:
``.shell
java -version
If Java has not been installed, you will see a similar result:
``.shell
root@kvmde67-19464:~# java -version
Command 'java' not found, but can be installed with:
apt install default-jre
apt install openjdk-11-jre-headless
apt install openjdk-8-jre-headless
Next, run the command to install **OpenJDK**:
``.shell
sudo apt install default-jre
This command installs the Java Runtime Environment (JRE). It allows you to run almost any Java software.
Check the installation with the following command:
``.shell
java -version
You will see a similar result:
``.shell
root@kvmde67-19464:~# java -version
openjdk version "11.0.6" 2020-01-14
OpenJDK Runtime Environment (build 11.0.6+10-post-Ubuntu-1ubuntu118.04.1)
OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM (build 11.0.6+10-post-Ubuntu-1ubuntu118.04.1, mixed mode, sharing)
To compile and run some specific Java-based programs, you may need the Java Development Kit (JDK) in addition to the JRE
To install the JDK we execute the following command which also executes the JRE installation:
``.shell
sudo apt install default-jdk
Next, check the installation of the JDK by checking the version of javac, the Java compiler:
``.shell
javac -version
You will see a similar result:
``.shell
root@kvmde67-19464:~# javac -version
javac 11.0.6
#### Installing certain versions of OpenJDK
**OpenJDK 8**
To install OpenJDK 8, run the following command:
``.shell
sudo apt install openjdk-8-jdk
To check the installation use the command
``.shell
java -version
You will see a result like this:
``.shell
root@kvmde67-19464:~# java -version
openjdk version "1.8.0_162"
OpenJDK Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_162+10-post-Ubuntu-1ubuntu118.04.1)
OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM (build 1.8.0_162+10-post-Ubuntu-1ubuntu118.04.1, mixed mode, sharing)
You can also install just the JRE by running the command
``.shell
sudo apt install openjdk-8-jre.
**OpenJDK 10/11**
To install OpenJDK 10/11 use the following command:
``.shell
sudo apt install openjdk-11-jdk
To install only JRE, the following command must be used:
.shell sudo apt install openjdk-11-jre
#### Installing Oracle JDK
If you want to install an officially distributed version of Oracle JDK, you need to add a new package repository for the version you want to use.
To install Java 8, you must first add a package repository for it:
``.shell
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:webupd8team/java
When the repository is added, the following message is displayed:
``.shell
Oracle Java (JDK) Installer (automatically downloads and installs Oracle JDK8). There are no actual Java files in this PPA.
Important -> Why Oracle Java 7 And 6 Installers No Longer Work: http://www.webupd8.org/2017/06/why-oracle-java-7-and-6-installers-no.html
Update: Oracle Java 9 has reached end of life: http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/jdk9-downloads-3848520.html
The PPA supports Ubuntu 18.10, 18.04, 16.04, 14.04 and 12.04.
More info (and Ubuntu installation instructions):
- http://www.webupd8.org/2012/09/install-oracle-java-8-in-ubuntu-via-ppa.html
Debian installation instructions:
- Oracle Java 8: http://www.webupd8.org/2014/03/how-to-install-oracle-java-8-in-debian.html
More info: https://launchpad.net/~webupd8team/+archive/ubuntu/java
Press [ENTER] to continue or Ctrl-c to cancel adding it.
Press ENTER to continue
Next we will update the list of packages:
``.shell
sudo apt update
After the update, let's install Java 8:
``.shell
sudo apt install oracle-java8-installer
Your system will download the JDK from Oracle and ask you to accept the license agreement. After accepting the terms of the agreement, the JDK will be installed.
#### Managing Java
Several versions of Java can be installed on one server. You can set the default version through the command line using the command **update-alternatives**.
``.shell
sudo update-alternatives --config java
If you have installed different versions of Java, the result you will see is this:
``.shell
root@kvmde67-19464:~# sudo update-alternatives --config java
There are 2 choices for the alternative java (providing /usr/bin/java).
Selection Path Priority Status
- 0 /usr/lib/jvm/java-11-openjdk-amd64/bin/java 1111 auto mode
1 /usr/lib/jvm/java-11-openjdk-amd64/bin/java 1111 manual mode
2 /usr/lib/jvm/java-8-openjdk-amd64/jre/bin/java 1081 manual mode
Press to keep the current choice[*], or type selection number
Select the number corresponding to the version of Java to be used by default, or press ENTER to keep the current selection.
You can also do this for other Java commands such as the compiler (javac):
``.shell
sudo update-alternatives --config javac
You will see a similar result:
``.shell
root@kvmde67-19464:~# sudo update-alternatives --config javac
There are 2 choices for the alternative javac (providing /usr/bin/javac).
Selection Path Priority Status
- 0 /usr/lib/jvm/java-11-openjdk-amd64/bin/javac 1111 auto mode
1 /usr/lib/jvm/java-11-openjdk-amd64/bin/javac 1111 manual mode
2 /usr/lib/jvm/java-8-openjdk-amd64/bin/javac 1081 manual mode
Press to keep the current choice[*], or type selection number
#### Setting the JAVA_HOME environment variable
To set the environment variable, you need to pre-define the Java installation directory. Use the command **update-alternatives**:
``.shell
sudo update-alternatives --config java
This command shows each Java installation and installation path:
``.shell
root@kvmde67-19464:~# sudo update-alternatives --config java
There are 2 choices for the alternative java (providing /usr/bin/java).
Selection Path Priority Status
- 0 /usr/lib/jvm/java-11-openjdk-amd64/bin/java 1111 auto mode
1 /usr/lib/jvm/java-11-openjdk-amd64/bin/java 1111 manual mode
2 /usr/lib/jvm/java-8-openjdk-amd64/jre/bin/java 1081 manual mode
Press to keep the current choice[*], or type selection number
Copy the path of the preferred version's installation directory. Open **/etc/environment** directory with a text editor:
``.shell
sudo nano /etc/environment
Add the following line at the end of this file and replace the path copied earlier:
JAVA_HOME="/usr/lib/jvm/java-11-openjdk-amd64/bin/"
Changing the file will set the path JAVA_HOME for all users on the system.
Save the changes and close the file (CTRL + X, Y, Enter)
Load the file again, to apply the changes to the current session:
``.shell
source /etc/environment
Check that the environment variable is set:
``.shell
echo $JAVA_HOME
You will see the path you just set:
root@kvmde67-19464:~# echo $JAVA_HOME
/usr/lib/jvm/java-11-openjdk-amd64/bin/
Other users will have to run the command source /etc/environment to apply this parameter.
If you have configuration difficulties or have further questions, you can always contact our support team via ticket system.