ElasticSearch and Java environment variable

Question

For Windows 7, I've installed JDK in both 32 and 64 bit versions. The versions are 8, update 20 for all four installations. http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/jdk8-downloads-2133151.html

when I download and unzip elasticsearch, and run /bin/service.bat or /bin/elasticsearch.bat files, I get in my terminal:

JAVA_HOME environment variable must be set! Press any key to continue . . .

When I do, the terminal closes.

I've uninstalled and reinstalled, but that didn't fix it. Why wouldn't the environment varaible get set? Is it an installation thing, or do I actually have to manually set the variable. It just seems like if it installed correctly, it would set the variable automatically... Please help. Thanks

I've manually set the JAVA_HOME environment variable using this.

https://confluence.atlassian.com/display/DOC/Setting+the+JAVA_HOME+Variable+in+Windows

My path is C:\Progra~1\Java\jdk1.8.0_20\jre

Now, when I run service.bat, the terminal immediately closes upon opening. When I run elasticsearch.bat, the terminal prints some lines, and after a while, it just stays there, and I can't type anything.

---

EDIT:

I uninstalled all java, reinstalled only the JRE 64 bit, and set the system environment variable to JAVA_HOME and `C:\Progra~1\Java\jre1.8.0_20

I have discovered that there is CLASSPATH that's set to a 32bit, older java version. Should I delete that variable?

Answer 1

STEP 1

Can you verify JAVA_HOME is set to C:\Progra~1\Java\jdk1.8.0_20,

C:\>echo %JAVA_HOME% 

Also, verify java command is available,

 java -version 

Reference

Check if JAVA_HOME is present in environment using batch script

STEP 2

If JAVA_HOME is not set, please follow the steps provided here - How to Set Java Home in windows

Summary ,

• Right-click the My Computer icon on your desktop and select Properties.
• Click the Advanced tab. Click the Environment Variables button. Under System Variables, click New.
• Enter the variable name as JAVA_HOME.

• Enter the variable value as the installation path for the JDK.

  (eg. C:\Progra~1\Java\jdk1.8.0_20).

• Click OK.
• Click Apply Changes.

Answer 2

A workaround if you do not have privileges to set up the environmental variables:

open the elasticsearch.bat file,

a) Remove the line:

if NOT DEFINED JAVA_HOME goto err 

b) Replace %JAVA_HOME% with your java jdk path, something like: C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.7.0_51

And for your terminal getting started and you not being able to type anything, it is the elasticsearch server, you need to connect to it using a client like cygwin.

https://cygwin.com/install.html

For connecting to the server refer the elasticsearch documentation.

http://www.elasticsearch.org/guide/

A similar question has already been answered:

"JAVA_HOME points to an invalid Java installation issue" with service install command in elastic search