WebEx desktop sharing on 64-bit Ubuntu

After much trial and error, I was able to get WebEx desktop sharing working in 64-bit Ubuntu just by installing a few packages:

1. Remove unnecessary packages that cause conflicts:

   sudo apt remove icedtea-7-plugin:i386 icedtea-8-plugin:i386 icedtea-netx:i386
   

2. Install 32-bit Java, a necessary 32-bit library, the Java plugin, and Firefox:

   • Ubuntu 14.10+

     sudo apt install openjdk-8-jre:i386 libxmu6:i386 icedtea-8-plugin firefox
     

   • Ubuntu 14.04 and below

     sudo apt-get install openjdk-7-jre:i386 libxmu6:i386 icedtea-7-plugin firefox
     

3. Make sure the correct Java plugin is configured:

   • Ubuntu 14.10+

     sudo update-alternatives --set mozilla-javaplugin.so /usr/lib/jvm/java-8-openjdk-amd64/jre/lib/amd64/IcedTeaPlugin.so
     

   • Ubuntu 14.04 and below

     sudo update-alternatives --set mozilla-javaplugin.so /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-openjdk-amd64/jre/lib/amd64/IcedTeaPlugin.so
     

Close and re-open Firefox, and WebEx desktop sharing should work.

• You must use Firefox. WebEx will not work on Google Chrome as Chrome for Linux no longer works with Java.
• If you don't remove and install the exact packages listed above, WebEx will work, but desktop sharing will not work.

Thanks bmaupin! For me this also works on a freshly installed 64-bit Ubuntu 16.04 (no upgrade from older Ubuntu)

Enabled 32-bit support (see also: http://www.unixmen.com/enable-32-bit-support-64-bit-ubuntu-13-10-greater/):

    sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386
    sudo apt-get update
    sudo apt-get upgrade

Installed openjdk and required plugins for Firefox

    sudo apt-get -y install openjdk-8-jre:i386 libxmu6:i386 icedtea-8-plugin

Set correct Java plugin for Firefox

    sudo update-alternatives --set mozilla-javaplugin.so /usr/lib/jvm/java-8-openjdk-amd64/jre/lib/amd64/IcedTeaPlugin.so

Run WebEx

• Confirm all questions (trust WebEx domain, allow to use icedtea plugin, etc)
• Screen sharing works for me
• Audio does not yet work for me

So I've struggled with this for years, and finally have a solution.

1. Install Ubuntu 32-bit. 64-bit simply won't work with Cisco's Webex Java plugin. I fought this for years, and finally gave up. I installed Ubuntu into a VM using [testdrive][1].
2. sudo apt-get install icedtea-6-plugin
3. Join a Webex and have fun sharing your desktop!