Java JRE 1.6.0_71 Certified with Oracle E-Business Suite

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[Jan. 16, 2014 Update: replaced Windows versions with a generic pointer to the underlying Notes]

The latest Java Runtime Environment 1.6.0_71 (a.k.a. JRE 6u71-b12) and later updates on the JRE 6 codeline are now certified with Oracle E-Business Suite Release 11i and 12 for Windows-based desktop clients.

Effects of new support dates on Java upgrades for EBS environments

Support dates for the E-Business Suite and Java have changed. Please review the sections below for more details:

What does this mean for Oracle E-Business Suite users?
Will EBS users be forced to upgrade to JRE 7 for Windows desktop clients?
Will EBS users be forced to upgrade to JDK 7 for EBS application tier servers?

All JRE 6 and 7 releases are certified with EBS upon release

Our standard policy is that all E-Business Suite customers can apply all JRE updates to end-user desktops from JRE 1.6.0_03 and later updates on the 1.6 codeline, and from JRE 7u10 and later updates on the JRE 7 codeline. We test all new JRE 1.6 and JRE 7 releases in parallel with the JRE development process, so all new JRE 1.6 and 7 releases are considered certified with the E-Business Suite on the same day that they're released by our Java team.

You do not need to wait for a certification announcement before applying new JRE 1.6 or JRE 7 releases to your EBS users' desktops.

What's new in in this Java release?

Java 6 is now available only via My Oracle Support for E-Business Suite users. You can find links to this release, including Release Notes, documentation, and the actual Java downloads here:

All Java SE Downloads on MOS (Note 1439822.1)

Both JDK and JRE packages are contained in a single combined download after 6u45. Download the "JDK" package for both the desktop client JRE and the server-side JDK package.

32-bit and 64-bit versions certified

This certification includes both the 32-bit and 64-bit JRE versions for various Windows operating systems. See the respective Deploying JRE documentation for your EBS release for details.

Worried about the 'mismanaged session cookie' issue?

No need to worry -- it's fixed. To recap: JRE releases 1.6.0_18 through 1.6.0_22 had issues with mismanaging session cookies that affected some users in some circumstances.

The fix for those issues was first included in JRE 1.6.0_23. These fixes will carry forward and continue to be fixed in all future JRE releases. In other words, if you wish to avoid the mismanaged session cookie issue, you should apply any release after JRE 1.6.0_22.

Implications of Java 6 End of Public Updates for EBS Users

The Support Roadmap for Oracle Java is published here:

Oracle Java SE Support Roadmap

The latest updates to that page (as of Sept. 19, 2012) state (emphasis added):

Java SE 6 End of Public Updates Notice

After February 2013, Oracle will no longer post updates of Java SE 6 to its public download sites. Existing Java SE 6 downloads already posted as of February 2013 will remain accessible in the Java Archive on Oracle Technology Network. Developers and end-users are encouraged to update to more recent Java SE versions that remain available for public download. For enterprise customers, who need continued access to critical bug fixes and security fixes as well as general maintenance for Java SE 6 or older versions, long term support is available through Oracle Java SE Support .

What does this mean for Oracle E-Business Suite users?

EBS users fall under the category of "enterprise users" above. Java is an integral part of the Oracle E-Business Suite technology stack, so EBS users will continue to receive Java SE 6 updates from February 2013 to the end of Java SE 6 Extended Support in June 2017.

In other words, nothing changes for EBS users after February 2013.

EBS users will continue to receive critical bug fixes and security fixes as well as general maintenance for Java SE 6 until the end of Java SE 6 Extended Support in June 2017.

How can EBS customers obtain Java 6 updates after the public end-of-life?

EBS customers can download Java 6 patches from My Oracle Support. For a complete list of all Java SE patch numbers, see:

All Java SE Downloads on MOS (Note 1439822.1)

Will EBS users be forced to upgrade to JRE 7 for Windows desktop clients?

This upgrade is highly recommended but remains optional while Java 6 is covered by Extended Support. Updates will be delivered via My Oracle Support, where you can continue to receive critical bug fixes and security fixes as well as general maintenance for JRE 6 desktop clients.

Java 6 is covered by Extended Support until June 2017. All E-Business Suite customers must upgrade to JRE 7 by June 2017.

Coexistence of JRE 6 and JRE 7 on Windows desktops

The upgrade to JRE 7 is highly recommended for EBS users, but some users may need to run both JRE 6 and 7 on their Windows desktops for reasons unrelated to the E-Business Suite.

Most EBS configurations with IE and Firefox use non-static versioning by default. JRE 7 will be invoked instead of JRE 6 if both are installed on a Windows desktop. For more details, see "Appendix B: Static vs. Non-static Versioning and Set Up Options" in Notes 290807.1 and 393931.1.

Applying Updates to JRE 6 and JRE 7 to Windows desktops

Auto-update will keep JRE 7 up-to-date for Windows users with JRE 7 installed.

Auto-update will only keep JRE 7 up-to-date for Windows users with both JRE 6 and 7 installed.

JRE 6 users are strongly encouraged to apply the latest Critical Patch Updates as soon as possible after each release. The Jave SE CPUs will be available via My Oracle Support. EBS users can find more information about JRE 6 and 7 updates here:

Information Center: Installation & Configuration for Oracle Java SE (Note 1412103.2)

The dates for future Java SE CPUs can be found on the Critical Patch Updates, Security Alerts and Third Party Bulletin. An RSS feed is available on that site for those who would like to be kept up-to-date.

What do Mac users need?

Mac users running Mac OS X 10.9 can run JRE 7 plug-ins. See this article:

EBS Release 12 Certified with Mac OS X 10.9 with Safari 7 and JRE 7

Will EBS users be forced to upgrade to JDK 7 for EBS application tier servers?

JRE is used for desktop clients. JDK is used for application tier servers

JDK upgrades for E-Business Suite application tier servers are highly recommended but currently remain optional while Java 6 is covered by Extended Support. Updates will be delivered via My Oracle Support, where you can continue to receive critical bug fixes and security fixes as well as general maintenance for JDK 6 for application tier servers.

Java SE 6 is covered by Extended Support until June 2017. All EBS customers with application tier servers on Windows, Solaris, and Linux must upgrade to JDK 7 by June 2017. EBS customers running their application tier servers on other operating systems should check with their respective vendors for the support dates for those platforms.

JDK 7 is certified with E-Business Suite 12. See:

References