Centos – How to install java JDK (not JRE) on CentOS 5.4

Use apt-get install sun-java6-jre sun-java6-jdk. Just because Oracle's (Sun's) JDK distribution also contains a JRE does not necessarily mean that the Ubuntu team packaged it the same way.

Of course, if you do not want to develop Java applications on your server but only want to run them, sun-java6-jre should be enough.

The java6 package was moved from the multiverse to the partner repository for Ubuntu 10.04 (and perhaps going forward, for Ubunto 10.10)

Add the repository to your sources.list:

sudo add-apt-repository "deb http://archive.canonical.com/ lucid partner"

Update the source list

sudo apt-get update

And install java

sudo apt-get install sun-java6-jre sun-java6-plugin sun-java6-fonts

The above three steps can also be performed in the gui:

1. System --> Administration --> Software Sources
2. Open the Other Software tab
3. Click + Add...
4. Enter deb http://archive.canonical.com/ lucid partner
5. Click +Add Source to accept the new repository
6. Click Close to update the source list
7. Open Firefox and open the following URLs:
   • apt:sun-java6-jre
   • apt:sun-java6-plugin
   • apt:sun-java6-fonts

Alternately, if you want to develop in java, you would install the sun-java6-jdk package.

If you have multiple versions of java installed, you may need to change the default version with the sudo update-alternatives --config java command, selecting the one with j2re1.6-sun in it.