How do I successfully Install JDK & JRE on CentOS 5?

Thanks MWV. I figured something like that could be possible, but I haven't even gotten past successfully installing JDK so I can't be sure if there's a conflict of that nature.

Is there a specific location you're supposed to run the rpm from? or a service I'm supposed to start?

Normally if the install runs without error, you don't have to change anything but admitedly I am not a CentOS or Linux for that matter expert.

After install, you can run:
java --version

If comes back with correct value you are all set.  You can update your %CLASSPATH% to point to the JRE files under the updated JDK instead of old ones.

On Windows, when I run "java -version" this is what I get for system with JDK 1.6 update 7.

java version "1.6.0_07"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.6.0_07-b06)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 10.0-b23, mixed mode, sharing)

                                              

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Thanks mwvisa. It's just so weird that it wouldn't show up after an install.

I followed the accepted instructions via the link you sent me. Oddly enough, the following happened when I tried to "rpm -im jdk-6u7-linux-i586.rpm"

""
Preparing packages for installation...
        package jdk-1.6.0_07-fcs is already installed
""

So now it's installed but not running?

I'm trying the additional instructions located here:

http://www.roseindia.net/linux/tutorial/installingjdk5onlinux.shtml

After following the instructions copied/pasted below I think I have it working. I'll let you know, and I'll be sure to give you points for it.


Installing Sun JDK on Linux (Fedora Core 3)                                              
                                                                                                       
Downloading
 Download the latest version of JDK from http://www.java.sun.com. I have downloaded jdk-1_5_0_01-linux-i586.bin for this tutorial.
Installing
Change to the directory where you downloaded the SDK ( I downloaded it in my home directory /home/deepak) and make the self-extracting binary executable:    chmod +x jdk-1_5_0_01-linux-i586.bin
 
Run the self-extracting binary, this will display the License agreement text and will ask you to accept the agreement:    ./jdk-1_5_0_01-linux-i586.bin
 
Above command should create a directory called jdk1.5.0_01 in the /home/deepak directory. Move the SDK directory to /usr/java/ .Create /usr/java if it doesn't exist. Here is the command used:    mv jdk1.5.0_01 /usr/java
 
Set the JAVA_HOME environment variable, by modifying /etc/profile so it includes the following:  JAVA_HOME="/usr/java/jdk1.5.0_01"
export JAVA_HOME
   
/etc/profile is run at startup and when a user logs into the system, so you will need to log out and log back in for JAVA_HOME to be defined.  
Check to make sure JAVA_HOME is defined correctly using the command below. You should see the path to your Java SDK.    echo $JAVA_HOME
Output should be
/usr/java/jdk1.5.0_01