[ale] help with java crash

[Ron Frazier (ALE)]

Hi all,

This thread was from a month ago when I was asking for help dealing with a Java crash.  I want to say thanks for all the suggestions.  I just got back to tackling the problem and decided to just go ahead and install Oracle Java in a Mint 13 VM.  I'm going to take steps to limit that machine's exposure to potentially malicious java apps, including running only selected websites and using noscript on other sites.  No site runs scripting unless I trust it.  That's my standard setup on all my Firefox installs.

I thought I'd post an update to show how I installed Oracle Java.

First, I used this procedure and changed file names as appropriate to install the latest Java from Oracle.

http://qdosmsq.dunbar-it.co.uk/blog/2013/01/installing-oracle-java-7-on-linux-mint-13/

Second, I used this procedure just for the "install the firefox plugin" part about half way down, changing path names and file names as appropriate.

http://community.linuxmint.com/tutorial/view/1091

Third, I had to go into synaptic package manager and uninstall completely all entries that mention iced tea.

After that, it worked, and I can now run the Oanda FXTrade currency trading web app, which requires the Java.  The "do I have java" applet on java.com also works.

Warning, if you don't want Java on the system, do NOT just keep removing whatever Java is there with synaptic.  I completely destabilized another VM that way, entered dependency hell, and never escaped.  I'm going to have to do a complete reinstall on that one.  I haven't figured out how to completely remove Java on my other Linux systems, although I'd like to.  OpenJDK 6 will still be installed after following these procedures, but will not be automatically used.  Iced Tea will be gone, however.

HTH

Sincerely,

Ron



Scott Plante <splante at insightsys.com> wrote:

>Hi Ron, 
>
>
>You should find something called the "IceTea-web Control Panel" on your
>menu. Then click "Debugging" on the left and Enable logging and Java
>Console: Show on startup. At least, that's what I have on OpenSUSE 12.3
>with OpenJDK 7.0.21. 
>When your Java applet begins, a separate window should then appear with
>log messages. 
>I haven't had that much luck with the OpenJDK implementation on Linux
>and have been using the Oracle JVM, but I haven't tried it for a year
>or so, so perhaps it's pretty much caught up now. As I just did a new
>install, I haven't gotten switched over from the IcedTea version yet on
>this box. Is this a private web app or public? Applet or JNLP? Firefox
>or Chrome? 
>
>
>Scott 
>
>----- Original Message -----
>
>From: "Ron Frazier (ALE)" <atllinuxenthinfo at techstarship.com> 
>To: "Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts" <ale at ale.org> 
>Sent: Friday, June 28, 2013 1:03:59 PM 
>Subject: Re: [ale] help with java crash 
>
>Hi James, 
>
>I see your point. However, there is no error that appears on the
>screen. The tab holding java.com just locks up, and the whole browser
>becomes unresponsive to the point of being unusable. If there's a log
>file that's relevant, I would need to know where to find it and what to
>look for. 
>
>Sincerely, 
>
>Ron 
>
>
>James Sumners <james.sumners at gmail.com> wrote: 
>
>>Asking for help with "why" any program would crash in any way without 
>>providing at least an error message, if not a crash log, is a 
>>completely pointless endeavor. There's nothing we can do to help. 
>> 
>>On Fri, Jun 28, 2013 at 12:02 PM, Ron Frazier (ALE) 
>><atllinuxenthinfo at techstarship.com> wrote: 
>>> Hi all, 
>>> 
>>> I've been trying to avoid using java since all these problems have 
>>been 
>>> happening with security. I've actually uninstalled it on all my 
>>Windows 
>>> machines. However, there are a few web apps which require it. 
>>> 
>>> I was running a mint 13 vm in virtualbox. It has the default java 
>>system, 
>>> which I believe is openjdk 6. I go to java.com, click do I have 
>>java?, then 
>>> verify java version. It crashes and locks up not only the tab in 
>>firefox 
>>> but essentially the whole browser. It also locks up when I try to 
>>access 
>>> the web app I'm wanting to use. Anybody know why it would do that? 
>>Is 
>>> there any alternative other than installing Oracle Java? 
>>> 
>>> Sincerely, 
>>> 
>>> Ron 
>> 
>> 
>>-- 
>>James Sumners 
>>http://james.roomfullofmirrors.com/ 
>> 
>>"All governments suffer a recurring problem: Power attracts 
>>pathological personalities. It is not that power corrupts but that it 
>>is magnetic to the corruptible. Such people have a tendency to become 
>>drunk on violence, a condition to which they are quickly addicted." 
>> 
>>Missionaria Protectiva, Text QIV (decto) 
>>CH:D 59 



--

Sent from my Android Acer A500 tablet with bluetooth keyboard and K-9 Mail.
Please excuse my potential brevity if I'm typing on the touch screen.

(PS - If you email me and don't get a quick response, you might want to
call on the phone.  I get about 300 emails per day from alternate energy
mailing lists and such.  I don't always see new email messages very quickly.)

Ron Frazier
770-205-9422 (O)   Leave a message.
linuxdude AT techstarship.com
Litecoin: LZzAJu9rZEWzALxDhAHnWLRvybVAVgwTh3
Bitcoin: 15s3aLVsxm8EuQvT8gUDw3RWqvuY9hPGUU