I have a problem with one specific website and either they way JRE runs or Javascript. I am using OpenSuse 10.2 and the problem existed in Sled 10.1. It does not matter which browser you use. There are two applets which must run. The first is a test to see which JRE you have, and the second is the java applet which you need in the first place (A version of OC://webconnect) The jretest applet downloads and starts but then stalls as if waiting for something that never comes. I tried a livecd of Knoppix 5 and the site worked fine and boths applets ran in both Konqueror and Firefox. Does this error console output give any clues?

JavaScript - https://secureconcoct.company.com:3443/startses.html
Event thread: load
Error:

name: TypeError

message: Statement on line 96: Type mismatch (usually a non-object value used where an object is required)
Backtrace:
Line 96 of inline#1 script in https://secureconcoct.company.com:3443/startses.html

jre = document.jretest.isSunJre();
Line 1 of script

isSunJre();
At unknown location

[statement source code not available]

I have munged the embedded weblink because of confidentiality rules to which I must be obedient. (Why do I not contact the company IT dept? As soon as you say Linux and Firefox or Opera or anything no M$ they clam up and say, "We only support Windoze and Explorer." Nevermind that the mainframe runs MVS.) I see obvious errors there but can't decipher them. And don't know that they even mean anything, when this site runs fine on Windoze or Knoppix.

What's the JRE version you run and the one on the KNOPPIX CD?
Can you bypass the JRE test and just run the Webconnect applet?

The Knoppix livecd had 1.4.something and my SuSe's had have 1.4 I can get 1.5 and I did try it, but it was no different, and dropped back until I can get a figure on this problem. I have not run into any other Java sites which provide applets that do not work. Only this one that generates the errors shown. And no, the way security is set you cannot bypass JREtest for when it passes it opens a small monitor window which in turns dl's or opens from your cache the webconnect applet. Webconnect will not open without that little window, and you can't get the little window without JREtest passing. Further if you close the little windows your webconnect applet will also close.

hmmm, me stumped

I know this is many months later. I upgraded my Linux installation from Ubuntu 7.10 to Fedora 8 a few weeks ago. I also now have a Webconnect problem...actually identical to your description. All usual Java stuff works on here using the new IcedTea version of Java. I have tried the version from Sun's website and it behaves identically.

Yet, I installed this Sun version on my wife's Fedora 7 system and it works fine. What's up with that? I have checked the Java Error Console under Firefox Tools and it gives me the error you described earlier..."jre = document.jretest.isSunJre();". What has changed with the new kernels. The same version of Firefox, Java, etc. Are we missing a switch that doesn't allow for the launch from the browser or what?

Here are some troubleshooting instructions I found on WebConnect regarding JRE settings -- these are for IE/XP, but perhaps they'll help...

Configuring Java 1.6 on Windows XP/Vista


Open the Windows ‘Control Panel’
Find and double click on the ‘Java’ icon. (Windows XP users may have to ‘Switch to Classic View’ in order to see the Java icon. This option is located in the left panel)
When the ‘Java Control Panel’ opens, select the ‘Advanced’ tab
Click on the ‘+’ sign next to ‘Security’
Under ‘Security’, make sure the following items have a check next to them:
Use SSL 2.0 compatible ClientHello format
Use TLS 1.0
Click ‘OK’
Make sure all Internet Explorer pages have been closed before trying again.