I've just installed Ubuntu in a dual boot configuration. I need to install Java plugin in the Firefox (version 2.0.0.11) browser. I have downloaded the self-extracting download from Sun to my desktop. The installation instructions at the Sun site tell me to install it from the terminal, but the commands don't work. It says to first type in "su" and then the password. When I put in my password, the terminal displays "su: Authentication failure Sorry." I have searched through numerous sites looking for another installation guide, but haven't found anything. Can someone point me to a good set of installations? I'm really stumbling around in the dark here, as this is my first experience with Linux.

Getting Java to work on linux is a bit of a joy. Ubuntu does not allow for a super user (well, that is not exactly true, but you do not need to worry about it ) Just try typing in sudo instead on the same line as whatever command is necessary to install the file. Once you get that far, I'll help you install the plugin. That's the hard part.

Thanks Groovicus for the help. I used the sudo command to change the permissions to executable and ran the file. I have no idea where it installed and can't find it. (I am still trying to learn how to navigate the file structure.) When I go back to the java site and and run their "Verify Installation", it tells me that the java plug-in is installed. But when I try to play an on-line game, I still get the message that java is not installed. I have gone into preferences and made sure that both "Enable javaScript" and "Enable jave" are checked. I am at a loss as to what to do next. I suspect that I need to somehow link the installed file, if I can find it.

Now comes the fun stuff... no really. First of all, you need to figure out where it was installed. Specifically, which java package did you install? I am assuming that you downloaded the JRE?

I downloaded Sun java version 6 update 3. The file is jre-6u3-linux-i586-rpm.bin. I downloaded it to my desktop. When I open the terminal the default prompt is jack@mert:-$. I changed into a Public directory under that before running the executable. I was under the impression that it would install in a new subdirectory under that, but when I use the ls command, the only thing that shows is the jre-6u3-linux-i586.rpm file. From there, I don't know where to look, or even what I am looking for specifically.


Edited to correct spelling.

First, type in this from the command prompt:
sudo update
This will update the list of files that are on your system. Once that is done, type in:
sudo locate libjavaplugin_oji.so
That should help you locate where your plugin is located. Keep track of that path. Now you need to figure out where your Firefox plugins go, so:
sudo locate firefox| grep plugin
Note the locations. Respond back with those, and I should be able to tell you where to put the plugin.

sudo update returns: sudo: update: command not found

sudo locate libjavaplugin_oji.so returns: Nothing, it just returns to the input prompt

sudo locate firefox| grep plugin returns: Lots of entries such as:
/usr/lib/firefox/plugins/Libtotem-narrowspace-plugin.so
/usr/lib/firefox/plugins/Libtotem-basic-plugin.so
/usr/lib/firefox/plugins/Libtotem-mully-plugin.so
/usr/lib/firefox/plugins/Libtotem-narrowspace-plugin.xpt
and much more

The installation instruction says that the JRE is installed in a directory called jre1.6.0_02 under the current directory if that helps.

My bad.. that first one should have been:
sudo updatedb

Sorry about that....

The sudo updatedb apparently worked. The system paused for almost a full minute, then returned to the command prompt.
I did a sudo locate using some wildcards. I turned up /usr/lib/openoffice/program/sunjaveplugin.so. Is this what we are looking for?

No. We are looking for libjavaplugin_oji.so, and we are looking for your Firefox install so that we know where to put the link to the plugin. Don't use wildcards, otherwise you will end up with a bunch more than you need. Just try the commands I gave you.

OK, I reran the commands you gave me.
The sudo updatedb paused for just a second, then returned to the command prompt.
The sudo locate libjavaplugin_oji.so still doesn't find anything.
The sudo locate firefox| grep plugin returns so much stuff that it scrolls off the top of the screen. Some of the results are:
/usr/share/firefox/searchplugins/wikipedia.src
/usr/share/firefox/searchplugins/answers.xml
/usr/share/firefox/searchplugins/google.xml and several similiar files
/user/lib/firefox/extensions/ubufox@ubuntu.com/content/pluginInstallerDatasource.js
/user/lib/firefox/extensions/ubufox@ubuntu.com/content/pluginInstallerService.js
/user/lib/firefox/extensions/ubufox@ubuntu.com/content/pluginInstallerWizard.js
/usr/lib/firefox/components/libgkplugin.so
/usr.lib/firefox/components/plugin.xpt
And the /usr/lib/firefox/plugins/ files I sent earlier
Also I just scrolled back up and found these:
/usr/share/app-install/icons/firefox-launchpad-plugin.xpm
/usr/share/app-install/desktop/firefox-launchpad-plugin.desktop
/home/jack/.mozilla/firefox/pluginreg.dat


If the file libjavaplugin_oji.so can't be found, could that mean that the installation didn't work right?


Edited to add more information

I'm going to have to put this project on hold. I'm leaving tomorrow morning for a week and won't be able to work on it until I get back. Thank you very much for the help Groovicus. Even though I didn't get the java plugin working, I have a much better understanding of the file system and some of the commands. And at least I know what file I am looking for.

I got busy for a bit also. Let me know when you are ready to pick up again... pm me if necessary if I do not respond.