Java 6/7 questions regarding new Preference Pane vs. old Java Preference Utility

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46 points

Java 6/7 questions regarding new Preference Pane vs. old Java Preference Utility

Hello.

See the bottom row, as it was apparently installed with new Oracle patch/version for zero day issue. Check out it's version. Now go to your Utilities folder and open Java Preferences and check it's versions. Which one do you think you have installed and actually working? Go to Terminal and enter "java -version" w/o quotations and what do you get? Of course, I'm assuming you applied the Java 7 07 this week, if not you would not see it.

Other questions at the bottom.

Here is my Terminal output even though Java 7 is installed as you see above:

Last login: Mon Sep 3 09:02:12 on ttys000

[Matthews-MacBook-Pro:~] matthewc% java -version

java version "1.6.0_33"

Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.6.0_33-b03-424-11M3720)

Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 20.8-b03-424, mixed mode)

[Matthews-MacBook-Pro:~] matthewc%

Any thoughts, ideas on which to believe? Which is actually running? Does one need to be disabled/removed ( the Java Preferences in the Utility folder should no longer be active/available since Apple no longer updates it if I'm not mistaken ) whereas the new Java preference Pane is new and from Oracle. Why does Java 6 still appears as active and operable to the system/Terminal?

Thanks.

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.1)

Posted on Sep 3, 2012 4:59 PM

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Answer 1

mculmore Author

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46 points

Sep 3, 2012 6:05 PM in response to mculmore

Oops. Wrong image sizes. Here they are in order from above:

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Answer 2

baltwo

Level 9

62,362 points

Sep 3, 2012 10:30 PM in response to mculmore

Step one is to read the FAQs. With Java JRE 7u7, color the Java Preferences app obsolete and dormant. It'll stay that way until Apple provides an update that states that when launched or removes it all together. Don't ask me how to have both installed, since I'm clueless. To stay current, use the new Java prefPane.

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Answer 3

Sep 4, 2012 4:08 AM in response to mculmore

The pref pane is used to update the 'Developer Preview of JRE 7, and the Java Preferences app is used as you can guess to make your preference or deactivate other versions of Java. However after installing JDK 7.7 from http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/jdk7u7-downloads-1836413 .html

I get 2 additional options within Java Preferences.app. By dragging them to the top you change which JRE is used in Terminal.app. If you want the ability to change JREs like this I suggest reinstalling the JDK 7.7 from the link I gave you.

You can setup an alias so you could type 'java7 - version' if you wished.

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Answer 4

mculmore Author

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46 points

Sep 4, 2012 8:10 AM in response to baltwo

Read the FAQ's before the install and was aware of the deprecated Apple Java and suspect it's disappearance soon to eliminate any confusion. My query is more about both being present, and why in Terminal is still shows Java 6 as the version. If you have both Java's installed run the "java -version" minus the quotes command and see which version your system reports.

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Answer 5

Sep 4, 2012 8:23 AM in response to mculmore

Mathew,

You are correct you can have as many JREs as you want on your machine so long as they are in different directories. The system JRE is the one chosen by the current Java Preferences app. However, I have a feeling this app only changes ordering of $PATH.

When running with the ordering in the previous post I get:

MBP:~ lcollins$ java -version

java version "1.6.0_33"

Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.6.0_33-b03-424-11M3720)

Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 20.8-b03-424, mixed mode)

With the ordering changed we get:

MBP:~ lcollins$ java -version

java version "1.7.0_04-ea"

Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.7.0_04-ea-b228)

Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 23.0-b12, mixed mode)

Luke

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Answer 6

mculmore Author

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46 points

Sep 4, 2012 8:18 AM in response to Luke Collins

Luke,

Yes, it is all as you suggested after installing the JDK as opposed to the JRE in Java Preferences. By that do you mean which version is reported upon the "java -version" minus the quotes command? If v6 is on top it shows in Terminal and if v7 is on top it is what reports upon the "java -version" minus the quotes command?

Does it make a difference which version is used in Terminal.app?

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Answer 7

Sep 4, 2012 8:23 AM in response to mculmore

Yes, I do mean the version shown in Terminal.app. You are right see my previous post I have included screen shots to explain.

It doesn't really make a difference unless you are running an app which has been compiled with J7 libraries in which case you need to use v7 to execute. It is backward compatable so will have no issues with v6 classes.

Luke

Software Engineer

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Answer 8

mculmore Author

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46 points

Sep 4, 2012 8:29 AM in response to mculmore

Luke-

Great answers and the same views as I now see, thanks to your screenshots and coaching it all makes sense.

Matthew

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Answer 9

Sep 4, 2012 8:33 AM in response to mculmore

No problem Mathew, glad to be able to help you.

Luke

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Answer 10

baltwo

Level 9

62,362 points

Sep 4, 2012 8:43 AM in response to Luke Collins

Thanks for popping in and filling in the details.

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Answer 11

mculmore Author

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46 points

Sep 5, 2012 11:23 AM in response to mculmore

This just showed up in Software Update. I thought Apple was through with Java updates but here it is:

http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1573?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

Java Preferences in Utilities has been updated from java version "1.6.0_33" to Java SE 6 to 1.6.0_35-b10-428 while Java from Oracle remains the same as above.

About Java for Mac OS X 10.6 Update 10

Java for Mac OS X 10.6 Update 10 delivers improved security, reliability, and compatibility by updating Java SE 6 to 1.6.0_35.

This update configures web browsers to not automatically run Java applets. Java applets may be re-enabled by clicking the region labeled "Inactive plug-in" on a web page. If no applets have been run for an extended period of time, the Java web plug-in will deactivate.

Please quit any web browsers and Java applications before installing this update.

SHA1 = 6218979ae4eaef5ea7849cb4455e2c6f8bf362d2

See http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5368 for more details about this update.

See http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1222 for information about the security content of this update.

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Answer 12

baltwo

Level 9

62,362 points

Sep 5, 2012 11:50 AM in response to mculmore

Do note that it's for SL. Some might be confused why it's here in ML forums

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Answer 13

Sep 5, 2012 2:43 PM in response to baltwo

This is not just for SL. I can confirm I updated Java through MAS on ML tonight.

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Answer 14

baltwo

Level 9

62,362 points

Sep 5, 2012 2:55 PM in response to Luke Collins

The first link takes you to the update for SL JE 6, #10. This takes you the Lion/ML one: http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1572 which I was commenting upon.

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Answer 15

mculmore Author

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46 points

Sep 5, 2012 3:56 PM in response to baltwo

Updated this morning through Mac App Store as well on Mountain Lion to which I referred, but thanks for the clarification on the links as I just copied from the Apple Support page and did not verify specifics.

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