Enabling linux java support in firefox 117

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#1

Hi,

sorry i didnt find any other category that is more fitting than this.

Currently i try to enable java on firefox running on linux ( ubuntu 22 )

I downloaded the latest firefox version from the website version 117.0 ( 64 Bit ).

I downloaded the latest java jre from oracle ( jre8-u381 ) aswell as openjdk-8-jre.

Some say that a “plugins” folder needs to be created in ~/.mozilla/ some say it needs to be created in the folder of the firefox profil.

A “libnpjp2.so” shall be copied, which is not included in the oracle or openjdk-8 package.

All existing threads / howto’s / websites i could found so far about this are at least 3 years old and referring to firefox versions a lot younger than the current one.

Could anyone please explain how – in linux – plugins currently work?

And if ever possible, what files, downloadable from where, are required in what folders/what ever?

Thank you!

#2

You are apparently talking about Java Applets in webbrowsers? That’s a technology that was killed many years ago!
I don’t know if it is possible to get it working with Java 8 and an OLD webbrowser. But I would be very surprised if it’s possible to get working in any modern browser.
Any specific reason you want Java support in the browser?

#3

Java applets were introduced in the first version of the Java language, which was released in 1995. Beginning in 2013, major web browsers began to phase out support for the underlying technology applets used to run, with applets becoming completely unable to be run by 2015–2017. Java applets were deprecated by Java 9 in 2017.

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#4

Hi,

yes, ancient old and has been replaced with HTML5.

So far the theory. In reality, when it comes to servermanagement boards ( HP iLO, Dell iDRAC, Supermicro IPMI ) most of the HTML5 implementations are not working well. While simply KVM functionality will work, if you want a bit more ( ISO mount, media mount, … ) the feature is either not working at all or has major restrictions ( timeouts for example ) or very bad implemented, resulting in cruel performance.

So at least for this usecase, it would be nice if newer browsers could be used.

But of course i understand, that human resources are limited. And this is a use case of/for a very limited amount of people.

So we will just maintain the old environments and use them until the major vendor’s give their HTML5 implementations enough love.

Thank you for your reply, and sorry for the too long delay in mine!
Have a nice christmas days and turnover for 2024 ahead :slight_smile:

Greetings
Oliver

#5

Yes a workaround is still needed in this day and age. You would be happy to know that some of us who work at universities, whose jobs are funded and assets purchased by your tax dollars, have been resourceful and prudent enough to continue to utilize servers that can be over 10 years old.

Getting the Iced Tea plugin to run was possible as late as last year, since our department still uses and I still maintain such old servers and remote iKVM is still needed from time to time. However, such an endeavor not only requires some cursory support from Mozilla, but from OS vendors as well (in my case Debian and CentOS (RH etc.)). Mozilla has taken over Firefox releases for Debian, except the ESR version still comes from Debian repos.

I don’t know if this is something that the ESR release should be capable of or if it’s something that could be working in the regular releases as well. I’d like to see some sort of Mozilla help article or wiki page that can document the best methods to get java plugins running with current versions of Firefox and Linux for those of use that still require it. I’d be happy to be part of a team that helps maintain such documentation. Otherwise, I guess we still search and post on forums as we can…

Best Regards,
Chandler

#6

I am please to report ability to get old iKVM applet from 2011 running in Firefox ESR 115 using Open Web Start!

1737×1075 334 KB

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