hi, i am still a newbie in linux. I've been using Ubuntu for a while on my desktop computer (windows system) with 4GB of RAM but running it graphical with a little bit of command line. I recently got serious did a fresh installation of CentOS 6.4 on my Mac Pro. I was able to finally get the Firefox plugin for java to work in the home directory as an individual user but how do I setup the firefox link for multiple users?

Here's what I did for individual installation:
- downloaded file
- mkdir /home/rhce/java
- cp /home/rhce/Downloads/jdk-8(tab).tar.gz /home/rhce/java
- cd /home/rhce/java
- tar zxvf jdk-8(tab).tar.gz [tab = tab key to autofill directory]
- cd /home/rhce/.mozilla/plugins
- ln -s /home/rhce/java/jdk1.8.0_05/jre/lib/amd64/libnpjp2.so
- closed and reopened firefox
- www.java.com/en/download/installed.jsp to verify java is installed
- got confirmation on page says "you have the recommended java installed (1.8.0_05)

Where I get confused is I would like to use the same step by step format as above and install to say /usr/java. I am trying to use the tar so that I can install applications on any system as opposed to the RPM method so that I can apply to Ubuntu, openSUSE, and/or CentOS ... basically a universal package manager strategy.

Also on another subject, is my system adequately setup?
- Mac Pro 2009 (8-core)
- 16GB of RAM
- 4 x 1TB hard drives
- 2 x DVD/RW drives
- 2 x GT120 video cards [512MB PCIeX16]
- DVI connection to 2 x 23 inch Acer Monitors
- going to add 2 x 2-port Gigabyte NICs (x4) slots from small tree
for additional subnetting.

My present goal is to get my RHCSA certification.

I'm sure you are just boasting about the over-expensive hardware<grin>.

Why are you not installing from the repos via rpm etc?
If software gets modified, you will have to recompile it all over again - together with dependencies...

Signon as root if you need write access to /usr or you could just place a link in /usr/java

howdy, when I bought the apple mac pro, the objective was as a family computer. Daughter was really into photography, really into music and writing her own music, and at the time, I had the money. Today there is no way I could purchase a system like that NOR would I spend that kind of money at present time if I had it again. Good jobs are a thing of the past it seems or more like good jobs are changing. I've been on unemployment for five (5) months and it's time to focus on just opening my own company ... may not make any money but at least I call the shots and that's my interest in Linux.

anyway the mac pro www.macsales.com -- I can upgrade the existing system for my future company to 128GB of RAM, add a K5000 video card for GPU, add 2x4-port NICs and 1x10GB 2-port NIC all for subnetting to other systems. I am can also upgrade to 4x4TB hard drives which makes this system a multi-functional system. I do have 2x3TB external backup drives for data. Shortly before my layoff, I purchased a Dell PowerEdge R710 system with 72GB of RAM, has onboard 4-port NIC, and added 2x4-port NICs and installed a NVS315 video card using the PCIeX16 rise on an x8 slot. doesn't run as well as my mac with full PCIeX16 video cards but better than the default installed 16MB video that comes with the system. The Dell R710 is installed in an Xrack pro 4U quiet rack so that I can run it in the house. If all goes as planned, and I get back employed even with some temporary work, I plan to get a Dell PowerEdge R720 and move the PCIeX16 NVS315 video card to it. I also have an NVS310 x4 video card that will be replaced installed in the R710 once I get the R720. I am bound and determined to get all the Linux certifications that I can.....Red Hat, Novell, LPI, Linux+, and of the security certifications to. Combine network of 3 systems will be 200GB of RAM, 6 x Quad-core Xeon processors, all gigabyte NICs ... end result is hopefully a new job in Linux tech support.

I purchased the book "A practical guide to Fedora and Red hat Enterprise Linux and will getting the Ubuntu book 14.04 sometime later this month. I want to be distribution flexible, package manager flexible, void of dependency to windows or apple. I love apple systems ... very beautiful equipment but I want my own company ... tired of layoffs and right sizing.

anyway, sorry for the rant. as I get better, I will be posting solutions with the steps in how I think to help others that are newbies to Linux too. been spoiled with the GUI for too long ... time to get under the hood so to speak.

If you want to "get under the hood" and be "distro independent", I'd suggest a book on Debian, rather than Ubuntu.
Ubuntu tends to be very desktop oriented.