Install Custom Java version in Linux

Hi folks, I have seen many a times that there is project requirement to use some old java version installation but as your system is already upgraded to the latest version you find it difficult to install it in one go. Most important, you don't need to worry about your default installation. So follow the below steps to install the required version of java in your system:

Step 1: Download the required version of JDK from the following link:
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/archive-139210.html#javase
Here select the major version of JDK and on the next page download the specific minor version of the selected major version like "Java SE Development Kit 7u51" to download JDK 7u51. Make sure to accept the License Agreement and then download the .tar.gz extension file against the Linux platform. I assume that you have downloaded the JDK in the /home/user/Downloads directory.

Step 2: Now extract the .tar using the following command in your /home/user/Downloads directory
tar -xvzf [your_file_name]
Example:

tar -xvzf jdk-8-linux-x64.tar.gz

Step 3: Create jvm folder in /usr/lib, if jvm folder doesn't exist using the following command:

sudo mkdir /usr/lib/jvm
 

Step 4: Move the extracted jdk folder to /usr/lib/jvm location. Follow the command being in your /home/user/Downloads directory

sudo mv {your_folder_name} /usr/lib/jvm

Step 5: Install the java source in system:
sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/javac javac /usr/lib/jvm/{your_folder_name}/bin/javac 1
sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/java java /usr/lib/jvm/{your_folder_name}/bin/java 1
sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/javaws javaws /usr/lib/jvm/{your_folder_name}/bin/javaws 1

Example:

sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/javac javac /usr/lib/jvm/jdk1.8.0/bin/javac 1
sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/java java /usr/lib/jvm/jdk1.8.0/bin/java 1
sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/javaws javaws /usr/lib/jvm/jdk1.8.0/bin/javaws 1

Step 6: Now following are the major steps which help you to switch your java version at any point of time. To choose the default java follow these commands to select the java, javac or the javaws version:

sudo update-alternatives --config javac
sudo update-alternatives --config java
sudo update-alternatives --config javaws

Running these individual commands will ask you for the version of java. Type in the number against the java version which you want and press enter. Make sure that you select the same java version in all the configuration selection.

Step 7: Test the java version by running the following command:

java -version

It will give you the default version of java used by the system.

Step 8: Configure JAVA_HOME. Type the following command in your terminal:

sudo gedit /etc/profile

Add following lines in end:
JAVA_HOME=/usr/lib/jvm/{your_folder_name}
export JAVA_HOME

Example:

JAVA_HOME=/usr/lib/jvm/jdk1.7.0
export JAVA_HOME

Step 9: Restart your system or you can load your updated source file by running the below command

source /etc/profile

Thats all for now. Write comments for any queries.

Thanks