Andrei Dumitru

How to install Java on RHEL 5

// March 7th, 2010 // No Comments » // how to, linux, rhel

1. Check your operating system just to be sure:

[root@andrei ~]# cat /etc/redhat-release
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server release 5.4 (Tikanga)

2. Check weather it’s a 32 or 64 bit version:

[root@andrei ~]# uname -a
Linux <output omitted> x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux 


The current OS is a 64 bit system, indicated by  x86_64.

3. Download Java (JDK) – select Linux or Linux64 depending on your OS and download the required file. In my case is jdk-6u18-linux-x64-rpm.bin.

4. Make the downloaded file executable and then run it:

[root@andrei ~]# chmod u+x jdk-6u18-linux-x64-rpm.bin
[root@andrei ~]# ./jdk-6u18-linux-x64-rpm.bin

5. After you accept the License Agreement the installation starts.

6. Your Linux distribution most likely comes with a Java version installed, but it is probably the GNU Compiler for Java (gij – GNU libgcj).Now you need to configure the system to use the newly installed Sun Java.

[root@andrei ~]# alternatives --install /usr/bin/java java /usr/java/jdk1.6.0_18/bin/java 2
[root@andrei ~]# alternatives --config java

After the second command you will be asked to make a selection of the Java version used in your system. Choose option number 2.

7. Check that your system has a new Java environment:

[root@andrei ~]# alternatives --display java

See what version of Java Runtime Environment you are using now:

[root@andrei ~]# java -version
java version "1.6.0_18"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.6.0_18-b07)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 16.0-b13, mixed mode)

GNU/Linux Advanced Administration

// February 5th, 2010 // No Comments » // linux

The Free Technology Academy has released a book about “GNU/Linux Advanced Administration”. The book is divided in modules, each module being focused on a part of the Linux operating system. The main subject coverd by the book is system administration and you can download it from the FTA website.

From the FTA website:

The GNU/Linux systems have reached an important level of maturity, allowing to integrate them in almost any kind of work environment, from a desktop PC to the sever facilities of a big company.

Evolution of this book

The FTA has reused existing course materials from the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC). The first version of this course book was published in 2004 for the Master Programme in Free software of the UOC. In 2008, this book was translated into English with the help of the SELF (Science, Education and Learning in Freedom) Project, supported by the European Commission’s Sixth Framework Programme. In 2009, this material has been improved by the Free Technology Academy. Additionally the FTA has developed a study guide and learning activities which are available for learners enrolled in the FTA Campus.

The evolution of this books is interesting to me, because it has evolved from existing course materials. I think there are many books out there that have such an evolution and are designed with a specific goal in mind.

Freshmen who are attending the course “Operating Systems Usage” at the Computer Science Department of the “Politehnica” University of Bucharest have available a similar book written by the team in charge of the course. You can find it on Google books (Romanian version only).

[FTA via cibercity.biz]