Solaris Java Plug-in User's Guide

Chapter 2 Installing Java Plug-in

This chapter includes the following information:

Installing Java Plug-in

Java Plug-in 1.2 is included in the Solaris 8 base package CD and automatically installs with Solaris 8.

Java Plug-in installs in the /usr/dt/appconfig/netscape directory by default, allowing for easy mass deployment. Since you can install Java Plug-in 1.2 in a central location, all your users can access the plug-in over NFS. This installation method creates a single point of administration and makes it easy to perform future upgrades.

Files Created During Installation

During the Java Plug-in 1.2 installation process, the directories and files listed in the following table are created in the installation directory.

Table 2-1 Java Plug-in 1.2 Files
 File Description
/j2pi/COPYRIGHTText file that contains JRE copyright information
/j2pi/ControlPanelScript that starts the Java Plug-in Control Panel
/j2pi/ControlPanel.htmlHTML file that enables you to work with the Control Panel from Netscape Navigator
/j2pi/LICENSE_JPI_en.txtJava Plug-in license agreement (English language version) in text format
/j2pi/LICENSE_JRE_en.psJRE license agreement (English language version) in PostScriptTM format
/j2pi/jre_config.txtText file that contains information about the JRE
/j2pi/bin Directory that contains the Java Plug-in executable and JRE executables
/j2pi/bin/javaDefault JRE (1.2.1_03)
/j2pi/lib Directory that contains property files, the Swing Java Archive (JAR) file, and the Java Plug-in JAR file
/plugins/javaplugin.soDescription of Java Plug-in for Solaris that displays when you choose About Plug-ins from the Help menu

Verifying the Installation

Perform the following tasks to verify that the installation was successful.

Setting Environment Variables

With multi-user systems, you set environment variables in each user's environment in one of the following locations:

When to Set Environment Variables

You set environment variables for Java Plug-in in the following situations:

Setting the Plug-in Path

You use the NPX_PLUGIN_PATH environment variable to specify a non-default location of Java Plug-in, or, if you installed both Java Plug-in 1.2 and 1.1.2 on your system, to specify the plug-in you want to use.


Note -

If you install a plug-in in the same location as Netscape Communicator, Netscape defaults to that plug-in.


Table 2-2 Setting the Plug-in Path
 Shell Command
csh% setenv NPX_PLUGIN_PATH [path to plug-in]:$NPX_PLUGIN_PATH
sh or ksh% NPX_PLUGIN_PATH=[path to plug-in]:$NPX_PLUGIN_PATH
 % export NPX_PLUGIN_PATH


Note -

You must include the directory of the plug-in you want to use as the first directory in the plug-in path.


Setting the Path of a Non-Default JRE

You use the NPX_JRE_PATH environment variable to specify the use of a non-default JRE with Java Plug-in.


Note -

Sun does not support the use of any JRE less than 1.2.1_03 with Java Plug-in 1.2.


Table 2-3 Setting the JRE Path
 Shell Command
csh% setenv NPX_JRE_PATH [new JRE location]
sh or ksh% NPX_JRE_PATH [new JRE location]
 % export NPX_JRE_PATH

Uninstalling Java Plug-in

You uninstall Java Plug-in using the prodreg utility.


Note -

After you uninstall Java Plug-in, you must unset any environment variables. In addition, if you modified any settings using the Java Plug-in Control Panel, you must delete the ~/.java/properties file.


How to Uninstall Java Plug-in
  1. Type su at the prompt to become superuser.

  2. Enter the superuser password at the prompt.

  3. Type prodreg to open the Prodreg Utility window.

  4. Select Java Plug-in 1.2 and click Remove.

  5. Click Exit to close the Prodreg Utility window.

Unsetting Environment Variables

If you previously set any environment variables, type the appropriate commands shown in the following table to unset the environment variables.

Table 2-4 Unsetting Environment Variables
 To unset... Using Type this command
Java Plug-in path csh% unsetenv NPX_PLUGIN_PATH
sh or ksh% unset NPX_PLUGIN_PATH
JRE pathcsh% unsetenv NPX_JRE_PATH
sh or ksh% unset NPX_JRE_PATH
Java Plug-in tracing output (see "Directing Tracing Output to a Terminal Window" )csh% unsetenv JAVA_PLUGIN_TRACE
sh or ksh% unset JAVA_PLUGIN_TRACE

Deleting ~/.java/properties

If you modified any settings using the Java Plug-in Control Panel, delete the ~/.java/properties file.