How to use the command update-alternatives --config java

Question

I am installing Apache Solr on Linux Debian (Squeeze). I have been instructed to install sun-java jdk 1st. Then am told that I should use the command sudo update-alter

Answer 1

update-alternatives is problematic in this case as it forces you to update all the elements depending on the JDK.

For this specific purpose, the package java-common contains a tool called update-java-alternatives.

It's straightforward to use it. First list the JDK installs available on your machine:

root@mylaptop:~# update-java-alternatives -l
java-1.7.0-openjdk-amd64 1071 /usr/lib/jvm/java-1.7.0-openjdk-amd64
java-1.8.0-openjdk-amd64 1069 /usr/lib/jvm/java-1.8.0-openjdk-amd64

And then pick one up:

root@mylaptop:~# update-java-alternatives -s java-1.7.0-openjdk-amd64

Answer 2

Have a look at https://wiki.debian.org/JavaPackage At the bottom of this page an other method is descibed using a command from the java-common package

Answer 3

There are many other binaries that need to be linked so I think it's much better to try something like sudo update-alternatives --all and choosing the right alternatives for everything else besides java and javac.

Answer 4

This is how I install jdk

#!/bin/bash
cd /opt/
sudo mkdir java
sudo tar -zxvf ~/Downloads/jdk-8u192-linux-x64.tar.gz
sudo ln -s  jdk1.8.0_192 current
for file in /opt/java/current/bin/*
do
   if [ -x $file ]
   then
      filename=`basename $file`
      sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/$filename $filename $file 20000
      sudo update-alternatives --set $filename $file
      #echo $file $filename
   fi
done

Answer 5

I'm using Ubuntu 18.04 LTS. Most of the time, when I change my java version, I also want to use the same javac version.
I use update-alternatives this way, using a java_home alternative instead :

Installation

Install every java version in /opt/java/<version>, for example

~$ ll /opt/java/
total 24
drwxr-xr-x 6 root root 4096 jan. 22 21:14 ./
drwxr-xr-x 9 root root 4096 feb.  7 13:40 ../
drwxr-xr-x  8 stephanecodes stephanecodes 4096 jan.   8  2019 jdk-11.0.2/
drwxr-xr-x  7 stephanecodes stephanecodes 4096 dec.  15  2018 jdk1.8.0_201/

Configure alternatives

~$ sudo update-alternatives --install /opt/java/current java_home /opt/java/jdk-11.0.2/ 100
~$ sudo update-alternatives --install /opt/java/current java_home /opt/java/jdk1.8.0_201 200

Declare JAVA_HOME (In this case, I use a global initialization script for this)

~$ sudo sh -c 'echo export JAVA_HOME=\"/opt/java/current\" >> environment.sh'

Log Out or restart Ubuntu (this will reload /etc/profile.d/environment.sh)

Usage

Change java version

Choose the version you want to use

~$ sudo update-alternatives --config java_home

There are 2 choices for the alternative java_home (providing /opt/java/current).

  Selection    Path                    Priority   Status
------------------------------------------------------------
  0            /opt/java/jdk-11.0.2     200       auto mode
  1            /opt/java/jdk-11.0.2     200       manual mode
* 2            /opt/java/jdk1.8.0_201   100       manual mode

Press <enter> to keep the current choice[*], or type selection number: 

Check version

~$ java -version
openjdk version "11.0.2" 2019-01-15
OpenJDK Runtime Environment 18.9 (build 11.0.2+9)
OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM 18.9 (build 11.0.2+9, mixed mode)

~$ javac -version
javac 11.0.2

Tip

Add the following line to ~/.bash_aliases file :

alias change-java-version="sudo update-alternatives --config java_home && java -version && javac -version"

Now use the change-java-version command to change java version

Answer 6

You will notice a big change when selecting options if you type in "java -version" after doing so. So if you run update-alternatives --config java and select option 3, you will be using the Sun implementation.
Also, with regards to auto vs manual mode, making a selection should take it out of auto mode per this page stating:

When using the --config option, alternatives will list all of the choices for the link group of which given name is the master link. You will then be prompted for which of the choices to use for the link group. Once you make a change, the link group will no longer be in auto mode. You will need to use the --auto option in order to return to the automatic state.

And I believe auto mode is set when you install the first/only JRE/JDK.