How to remove old version of Java and install new version

Question

I have a Linux box on which Java 1.7 is installed:

#java -version
java version "1.7.0_09-icedtea"
OpenJDK Runtime Environment (rhel-2.3.4.1.el6_3-x86_64)
OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM (build 23.2-b09, mixed mode)

But for some new tool I need to install the jdk-8u45-linux-x64.tar.gz

So how can I remove old one and install the new one?

Answer 1

1. To remove OpenJDK (the one you've already installed)

   sudo apt-get purge openjdk-\*

2. Make a new directory for your new JDK

   sudo mkdir -p /usr/local/java

3. Copy the file to the directory (you should be in that file path)

   sudo cp -r jdk-8u45-linux-x64.tar.gz /usr/local/java/

4. Extract the file

   sudo tar xvzf jdk-8u45-linux-x64.tar.gz

5. You should add this to your PATH now. To do that:

   a. Open /etc/profile : sudo gedit /etc/profile

   b. Scroll down (the end) and add the path where your jdk was installed

   JAVA_HOME=/usr/local/java/jdk1.8.0_45 PATH=$PATH:$HOME/bin:$JAVA_HOME/bin export JAVA_HOME export PATH

   Save and exit

6. Inform your Linux system where your Oracle Java JDK/JRE is located.

   a. Notify the system that Oracle Java JRE is available for use

   sudo update-alternatives --install "/usr/bin/java" "java" "/usr/local/java/jdk1.8.0_45/bin/java" 1

   b. Notify the system that Oracle Java JDK is available for use

   sudo update-alternatives --install "/usr/bin/javac" "javac" "/usr/local/java/jdk1.8.0_45/bin/javac" 1

   c. Notify the system that Oracle Java Web start is available for use

   sudo update-alternatives --install "/usr/bin/javaws" "javaws" "/usr/local/java/jdk1.8.0_20/bin/javaws" 1

7. Inform your Linux system that Oracle Java JDK/JRE must be the default Java.

   a. Set the java runtime environment for the system

   sudo update-alternatives --set java /usr/local/java/jdk1.8.0_45/bin/java

   b. Set the javac compiler for the system

   sudo update-alternatives --set javac /usr/local/java/jdk1.8.0_45/bin/javac

   c. Set Java Web start for the system

   sudo update-alternatives --set javaws /usr/local/java/jdk1.8.0_20/bin/javaws

8. Reload your system wide PATH

   source /etc/profile

9. Check the new version and you're done!

   java -version