Where to install GlassFish on Linux?

Question

DISCLAIMER: I\'m relatively new to Linux. I debated putting this on SuperUser or ServerFault because the answer does require an explanation of Linux as

Answer 1

Regarding the prior recommendation, some tradeoffs remain:

• If placed in /opt or /usr/local, you will have to have read/write access to those directories, meaning that you will have to have root access to the box. In some environments (where IT controls the platform), IT will not let you have root access. You would have to delegate to IT the responsibility of installing, patching, and upgrading the GlassFish binaries.
• If placed in /opt or /usr/local, then you will also have to place the domain directories (--domaindir) in a separate location unless you want them owned by root (unlikely). This was the default in GlassFish 2.x RPM installs on Linux. GlassFish 3.x does not have RPM installs (from Oracle, anyway), but you can still split the two. This isn't a bad tradeoff, but something you should understand.
  • If placed in a "home directory", then you have rights to upgrade the core binaries, install patches, etc, separate from IT. There is good/bad/ugly in this approach depending on organizational responsibilities.

Hope this helps.