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I found that I was running a few versions behind on my linux desktop, but their was no updated package for the latest java. This is how I created a .deb package and installed it...

The commands commands below are all in a terminal. The latest version of Java may vary by the time you are following these instructions. Change the numbers in the file names as needed...

First I needed to install the package called “fakeroot” & “java-package”.

sudo apt-get install fakeroot java-package

Then I downloaded the linux installer from Sun's site which is here...

http://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp

Change to the directory that your web browser saves to. Mine is /home/MyUserName/Downloads...

cd ~/Downloads

Make the file executable...

chmod a+x jre-1_5_0_10-linux-i586.bin

Run the fakeroot java package command...

fakeroot make-jpkg jre-1_5_0_10-linux-i586.bin

Follow the instructions that the installer asks you. When you are done there should be a Debian package in the same directory. Install it with this command...

sudo dpkg -i sun-j2re1.5_1.5.0+update10_i386.deb

Now update the systems configuration...

sudo update-alternatives --config java

It will say something like...

There are 3 alternatives which provide `java'.

Selection Alternative

-----------------------------------------------

1 /usr/bin/gij-wrapper-4.0

+ 2 /usr/lib/jvm/java-gcj/bin/java

* 3 /usr/lib/j2re1.5-sun/bin/java

Press enter to keep the default[*], or type selection number:

I chose #3. Your system might vary in what it lists here.

Confirm the version. If it matches, you did well. If not find a local Linux guru and ask them for help.

java -version

Mine said...

java version "1.5.0_10"

Java(TM) 2 Runtime Environment, Standard Edition (build 1.5.0_10-b03)

Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 1.5.0_10-b03, mixed mode, sharing

Thanks to this blog entry that helped me with this...

http://www.docuverse.com/blog/donpark/2005/11/25/ubuntu-breezy-installing-java-and-eclipse