JRE stands for Java Runtime Environment.
JDK stands for Java Development Kit.
In most situations, if you want to run a Java application, you just need to install Only JRE.
But, if you are doing some development work, or compiling an application that requires Java SDK, then you have to install JDK.
This tutorial explains how to install JRE only, JDK only, and both JRE JDK together.
Download Java 8 JRE Only
The latest version of Java 8 is available for download from here. Click on the “Download” link next to “JRE”.
Here is the direct download link for JRE 8 Download.
For 64-bit linux, download the jre-8u131-linux-x64.rpm file, which is under “Linux x64”
for 32-bit linux, download the jre-8u131-linux-i586.rpm file, which is under “Linux x86”
Install Java 8 JRE Only
On this server, currently there is no java installed.
# java -version -bash: java: command not found # rpm -qa | grep -i jre
Install the downloaded jre rpm file as shown below.
# rpm -ivh jre-8u131-linux-x64.rpm --test
Preparing... ################# [100%]
# rpm -ivh jre-8u131-linux-x64.rpm
Preparing... ################# [100%]
Updating / installing...
1:jre1.8.0_131-1.8.0_131-fcs ################# [100%]
Unpacking JAR files...
plugin.jar...
javaws.jar...
deploy.jar...
rt.jar...
jsse.jar...
charsets.jar...
localedata.jar...
Verify to make sure it is installed successfully. In this example, as we see, this has installed the 1.8.0 version of java.
# java -version java version "1.8.0_131" Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_131-b11) Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.131-b11, mixed mode) # rpm -qa | grep -i jre jre1.8.0_131-1.8.0_131-fcs.x86_64
Note: If you are new to Java, and like to learn how to write a simple basic hello world java program, this might help: How To Write and Execute Java Program on Unix OS
Download Java 8 JDK Only
If you are installing JDK, you typically don’t have to install JRE separately as all the binary files that are included with JRE is also included with JDK.
The latest version of Java 8 is available for download from here. Click on the “Download” link next to “JDK”.
Here is the direct download link for JDK 8 Download.
Click on the radio-button that says: “Accept License Agreement”. The radio button will disappear and you’ll see this message: Thank you for accepting the Oracle Binary Code License Agreement for Java SE; you may now download this software.
For 64-bit linux, download the jdk-8u131-linux-x64.rpm file, which is under “Linux x64”
for 32-bit linux, download the jdk-8u131-linux-i586.rpm file, which is under “Linux x86”
Install Java 8 JDK Only
Install the Java 8 JDK on your system as shown below.
# rpm -ivh jdk-8u131-linux-x64.rpm --test
Preparing... ################ [100%]
# rpm -ivh jdk-8u131-linux-x64.rpm
Preparing... ################ [100%]
Updating / installing...
1:jdk1.8.0_131-2000:1.8.0_131-fcs ################ [100%]
Unpacking JAR files...
tools.jar...
plugin.jar...
javaws.jar...
deploy.jar...
rt.jar...
jsse.jar...
charsets.jar...
localedata.jar...
Make sure that the jdk rpm is successfully installed.
# rpm -qa | grep -i jdk jdk1.8.0_131-1.8.0_131-fcs.x86_64
Java 8 JRE and JDK File Locations
By default, the above steps will install both jre and jdk under /usr/java directory as shown below.
# ls -l /usr/java/ lrwxrwxrwx. 1 root root 16 Jun 1 16:55 default -> /usr/java/latest drwxr-xr-x. 9 root root 4096 Jun 1 17:03 jdk1.8.0_131 drwxr-xr-x. 7 root root 4096 Jun 1 16:55 jre1.8.0_131 lrwxrwxrwx. 1 root root 22 Jun 1 17:03 latest -> /usr/java/jdk1.8.0_131
The above ls output indicates that you can install multiple versions of jre or jdk on the same machine, as each and every version of the installation will get its own directory name with the version number in it.
The java executable is used from the JRE location (and not from JDK location).
When you have multiple java installed, to identify which version of the java executable is used system-wide, do the following:
As shown below, the java executable is pointing to /usr/bin/java
# whereis java java: /usr/bin/java /usr/share/man/man1/java.1
The /usr/bin/java is really pointing to the java in /etc/alternatives directory.
# ls -l /usr/bin/java lrwxrwxrwx. 1 root root 22 Jun 1 17:03 /usr/bin/java -> /etc/alternatives/java
Finally, as you see here, the etc alternatives java is pointing to the java executable from the Java 8 JRE that we installed. (i.e from /usr/java/jre1.8.0_131/bin directory)
# ls -l /etc/alternatives/java lrwxrwxrwx. 1 root root 31 Jun 1 17:03 /etc/alternatives/java -> /usr/java/jre1.8.0_131/bin/java
