My server already had Java 1.4.2 installed. I'm trying to upgrade to Java 1.5.
I've tried installing via the jdk-1_5_0_07-linux-i586.rpm file and the jdk-1_5_0_07-linux-i586-rpm.bin file downloaded off java.sun.com.

I used the sun install instructions off the sun site - I can't post a link to it since I don't have enough posts - for reference.

I know the installation was successful. When I do
#rpm -qa | grep jdk
jdk-1.5.0_07-fcs

However, when I do
# java -version
I get

java version "1.4.2_08"
Java(TM) 2 Runtime Environment, Standard Edition (build 1.4.2_08-b03)
BEA WebLogic JRockit(TM) 1.4.2_08 JVM R24.5.0-61 (build ari-49095-20050826-1856-linux-ia32, Native Threads, GC strategy: parallel)

I've tried rebooting, I've tried editing /etc/profile to point JAVA_HOME to the jdk1.5.0_07 directory. Working java version still shows up as 1.4.2.

I've been told to try 'update-alternatives --config java' to switch java versions. When I do this, it only lists 1.4.2 as an alternative.

How do I get the system to use the newly installed jdk1.5?

Wrote this a while ago, ajust to match the newer version and for jdk;

Reconfiguring CentOS 4's default Java configuration

This is done as root or equivalent.

First remove /var/lib/alternatives/java file by typing;

rm /var/lib/alternatives/java

When asked press the 'y' key,

Now to create the new (corrected) alternatives file for java type
the following commands as root (modify for jdk as needed);

/usr/sbin/alternatives --install /usr/bin/java java /usr/lib/jvm/jre-1.4.2-gcj/bin/java 1

/usr/sbin/alternatives --install /usr/bin/java java /usr/java/j2re1.5.0_06/bin/java 2

/usr/sbin/alternatives --config java

You should now see for example:

There are 2 programs which provide 'java'.

Selection Command
-----------------------------------------------
1 /usr/lib/jvm/jre-1.4.2-gcj/bin/java
*+ 2 /usr/java/j2re1.5.0_06/bin/java

Enter to keep the current selection[+], or type selection number:

Type: <choose 1 or 2>

In the example above java is already configured correctly [*+ 2] to
use Sun's Java, no changes are needed, just press the Enter key here.
If you have been following the instructions then you should have
the same results (version numbers may be sightly different).

Now type; /usr/sbin/alternatives --display java

You should see for example;

java - status is manual.
link currently points to /usr/java/j2re1.5.0_06/bin/java
/usr/lib/jvm/jre-1.4.2-gcj/bin/java - priority 1
/usr/java/j2re1.5.0_06/bin/java - priority 2
Current `best' version is /usr/java/j2re1.5.0_06/bin/java.

Next you might want to create (or edit) /etc/profile.d/java.sh
file, example below;

export JAVA_HOME="/usr/java/jre1.5.0_06/bin"
export JAVA_PATH="$JAVA_HOME"
export PATH="$PATH:$JAVA_HOME"

When done creating or editing the file type;

source /etc/profile.d/java.sh

Now any user root or other wise should be able to use the command;

which java

and the results should read something like;

/usr/java/jre1.5.0_06/bin/java

Also any user root or other wize should be able to use the command;

java -version

and the results should read something like;

java version "1.5.0_06"
Java(TM) 2 Runtime Environment, Standard Edition (build 1.5.0_06-b05)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 1.5.0_06-b05, mixed mode, sharing)


That's it, all done.

thanks! this worked like a charm.

/me smashing his head against redhat