When and Why run alternatives --install java jar javac javaws on installing jdk in linux
To install java in linux (I used CentOS, RHEL is same too), I used this command
rpm -Uvh /path/to/binary/jdk-7u55-linux-x64.rpm
and verified java
java -version
Looking at a tutorial, it says to run following 4 commands, not sure why
## java ##
alternatives --install /usr/bin/java java /usr/java/latest/jre/bin/java 200000
## javaws ##
alternatives --install /usr/bin/javaws javaws /usr/java/latest/jre/bin/javaws 200000
## Install javac only
alternatives --install /usr/bin/javac javac /usr/java/latest/bin/javac 200000
## jar ##
alternatives --install /usr/bin/jar jar /usr/java/latest/bin/jar 200000
I know if there are multiple versions of java installed, you can select version to use from
alternatives --config java
then why to run alternative --install separately for each executable.
I've seen this question but doesn't get my answer
Answer
When you install JDK on Linux, what gets installed depends on the type of package, version and distribution. You can refer to the following links for information about the installation location on linux:
JDK Installation for Linux Platforms - Version 8
JDK Installation for Linux Platforms - Version 7
Once you install JDK, the bin folder containing tools might not get added to the environment variable PATH. Commands typed on the terminal needs to be from the locations specified in the PATH variable. In cases when JDK\bin does not get added, the user would need to configure it manually as mentioned in Installing the JDK Software
alternatives command is being used to create a symbolic link. Here, it is being directed to use the command to add the tools like javac, javaw to /usr/bin which exists in the PATH variable by default.
If( you could execute java -version outside of JDK/bin && not by specifying the complete path && if the version and bundle prints to be as that of package you installed ){ you need not run the alternatives command.}