I need to download Java 2 Runtime Environment, where can i get it?

How about at the java website?:
http://www.java.com/en/download/linux_manual.jsp

Funny that they call it java 2---the files are actually 1.5 + something

I downloaded the Linux self extracting as opposed to the .rpm, Ubuntu doesn't read .rpm's does it?

Ubuntu can use .rpm through alien, OR you could install the official ubuntu packages, such as sun-java6-jre. (This is the 1.6 runtime environment)

this is what i'm getting on the install in a root terminal

root@kevanr:/home/kevan# cd jre.bin
bash: cd: jre.bin: Not a directory
root@kevanr:/home/kevan#

I have to have the Java 2 Runtime-I need it for a program I have to get.

You might need to execute the installer, though I still recommend use of the apt repositories.

I am trying to get alien-and this is the page I am following:

http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Ubuntu_E...er_.28Alien.29

However, this is what I get:

root@kevanr:/home/kevan# aptitude install alien
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Initializing package states... Done
Building tag database... Done
The following NEW packages will be automatically installed:
debhelper dpkg-dev html2text libbeecrypt6 librpm4 rpm
The following packages have been kept back:
firefox firefox-gnome-support libnspr4 libnss3
The following NEW packages will be installed:
alien debhelper dpkg-dev html2text libbeecrypt6 librpm4 rpm
0 packages upgraded, 7 newly installed, 0 to remove and 4 not upgraded.
Need to get 1573kB/2490kB of archives. After unpacking 8327kB will be used.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n/?] Y
Writing extended state information... Done
Get:1 http://security.ubuntu.com edgy-security/main librpm4 4.4.1-9.1ubuntu0.1 [973kB]
Media Change: Please insert the disc labeled 'Ubuntu 6.10 _Edgy Eft_ - Release i386 (20061025.1)' in the drive '/cdrom/' and press enter

Get:2 http://security.ubuntu.com edgy-security/main rpm 4.4.1-9.1ubuntu0.1 [600kB]
Fetched 1573kB in 1m19s (19.8kB/s)
Selecting previously deselected package dpkg-dev.
(Reading database ... 117510 files and directories currently installed.)
Unpacking dpkg-dev (from .../dpkg-dev_1.13.22ubuntu7_all.deb) ...
Selecting previously deselected package html2text.
Unpacking html2text (from .../html2text_1.3.2a-3_i386.deb) ...
Selecting previously deselected package debhelper.
Unpacking debhelper (from .../debhelper_5.0.37.3ubuntu4_all.deb) ...
Selecting previously deselected package libbeecrypt6.
Unpacking libbeecrypt6 (from .../libbeecrypt6_4.1.2-5_i386.deb) ...
Selecting previously deselected package librpm4.
Unpacking librpm4 (from .../librpm4_4.4.1-9.1ubuntu0.1_i386.deb) ...
Selecting previously deselected package rpm.
Unpacking rpm (from .../rpm_4.4.1-9.1ubuntu0.1_i386.deb) ...
Selecting previously deselected package alien.
Unpacking alien (from .../a/alien/alien_8.64_all.deb) ...
Setting up dpkg-dev (1.13.22ubuntu7) ...
Setting up html2text (1.3.2a-3) ...

Setting up debhelper (5.0.37.3ubuntu4) ...
Setting up libbeecrypt6 (4.1.2-5) ...

Setting up librpm4 (4.4.1-9.1ubuntu0.1) ...

Setting up rpm (4.4.1-9.1ubuntu0.1) ...

Setting up alien (8.64) ...
root@kevanr:/home/kevan# ./configure
bash: ./configure: No such file or directory
root@kevanr:/home/kevan# make checkinstall
make: *** No rule to make target `checkinstall'. Stop.
root@kevanr:/home/kevan#

I am somewhat new to command line, so go easy on me...

You're mixing two sections. Just use the first part, the one about " How to install & use .rpm to .deb Converter (Alien)"

Why should anyone attempt to help you when you pay no attention to their suggestions.

# sudo apt-get install sun-java6-jre

As I stated earlier, they call it "2" on the site, but it is really 1.5.0.X

And--it is in the Ubuntu repositories (On my Mepis, it was installed by default

Have you looked using Synaptic (in the GUI)

OK-it seems it was in my synaptic package manager. Is J2R another program that runs without you seeing it? Oh, and rickh, why did you think I wasn't paying attention to people's suggestions? I was down and out all yesterday with strep throat.

Based on reading at the java site, I think that jre 1.5.0.X is also called "java 2" If you have jre already, I don't think there is some other program to install....

rickh read you as ignoring other posts---I read as simply that you were struggling to understand. Not to worry....

OK-so my problem is, I installed a program for dial-up through a company called netzero. They have the file for Linspire in a .deb format. See this other thread: http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...d.php?t=532071
In the link to the Ubuntu forum, it said that I need to have J2R installed to be able to see/run it. I have to have this figured out by Saturday...

I repeat: install sun-java5-jre. (This is Sun's official java 2, version 1.5 runtime environment)