I'm trying to install java jdk using rpm but ...

john@athlon64:~/Desktop$ rpm -i jre-6u3-linux-i586.rpm
rpm: To install rpm packages on Debian systems, use alien. See README.Debian.
error: cannot open Packages index using db3 - No such file or directory (2)
error: cannot open Packages database in /var/lib/rpm

Can anybody help? ... Thanks ... John

Why not use the correct and newer jre-6u5-linux-i586.bin for Debian from Sun???

http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/index.jsp
http://java.sun.com/javase/6/webnote...all-linux.html

Moved: This thread is more suitable in Debian and has been moved accordingly to help your thread/question get the exposure it deserves.

So ... thanks!

So now I have the lstest.
And the same thing happens.
So ... what next???

Thanks

http://www.debianhelp.co.uk/debianjava.htm should be of assistance to you and make life easier too!

Do you agree to the above license terms? [yes or no]
yes
Unpacking...
Checksumming...
Extracting...
UnZipSFX 5.50 of 17 February 2002, by Info-ZIP (Zip-Bugs@lists.wku.edu).
inflating: jdk-6u5-linux-i586.rpm
inflating: sun-javadb-common-10.3.1-4.1.i386.rpm
inflating: sun-javadb-core-10.3.1-4.1.i386.rpm
inflating: sun-javadb-client-10.3.1-4.1.i386.rpm
inflating: sun-javadb-demo-10.3.1-4.1.i386.rpm
inflating: sun-javadb-docs-10.3.1-4.1.i386.rpm
inflating: sun-javadb-javadoc-10.3.1-4.1.i386.rpm
rpm: To install rpm packages on Debian systems, use alien. See README.Debian.
error: cannot open Packages index using db3 - No such file or directory (2)
error: cannot open Packages database in /var/lib/rpm
rpm: To install rpm packages on Debian systems, use alien. See README.Debian.
error: cannot open Packages index using db3 - No such file or directory (2)
Installing JavaDB
rpm: To install rpm packages on Debian systems, use alien. See README.Debian.
error: cannot open Packages index using db3 - No such file or directory (2)
error: cannot open Packages database in /var/lib/rpm

Done.
john@athlon64:~/john/java$ ls
jdk sun-javadb-core-10.3.1-4.1.i386.rpm
jdk-6u5-linux-i586.rpm sun-javadb-demo-10.3.1-4.1.i386.rpm
sun-javadb-client-10.3.1-4.1.i386.rpm sun-javadb-docs-10.3.1-4.1.i386.rpm
sun-javadb-common-10.3.1-4.1.i386.rpm sun-javadb-javadoc-10.3.1-4.1.i386.rpm

john@athlon64:~/john/java$ rpm -i jdk-6u5-linux-i586.rpm
rpm: To install rpm packages on Debian systems, use alien. See README.Debian.
error: cannot open Packages index using db3 - No such file or directory (2)
error: cannot open Packages database in /var/lib/rpm
john@athlon6

One more time....... DO NOT DOWNLOAD the Linux RPM in self-extracting file get this one;

Linux self-extracting file jdk-6u5-linux-i586.bin 67.23 MB

Or follow the advice given;

You can't install the 586 version on a 64 bit system.

Also java is in the repos. Just use apt-get

----------------------------------------------------------------------
I have both the .bin's ... I hava 64 bit system ..
so if I can't use 586 ... what can I use?

You havta realize I'm a newbie at this.
I haven't the slightist idea of what apt-get is, where it is, how to execute it, how to get where it is so I can exeute it. remember I haven't done this kinda %)&$@^( stuff before. so be patient and give me more details.

By the way ... I REALLY DO appreciate your response, time 'n effort.

John

64 bit is backwards compatible just as all of the x86 processers are

---------------------------------------
Ok so I can run apt-get
... from a terminal session
... it's in my $PATH ... usr/bin
... there's a 'but' coming

...but the command is apt-get <package-name>
... so I wanta get jre ...
... so whatta I use for <package-name>???

How's this work?
... all the primer's on apt-get so far haven't been enlightening.

apt-get update && apt-get install sun-java6-jre sun-java6-plugin [or -jdk, for dev-work] ; then do: update-alternatives --config java : older version can then be removed

OK ... so the ap-get seemed to have worked.
The update-alternative resulted in "no alternatives"
... which I would kinda expect.

so now whatta I do?

This is so frustrating ...
... A download and installation should be a piece of cake
... instead I have to bother 10+ people.

Is my installation complete?
If so how do I run the jre?

you don't run jre, its a browser plugin