How do I install the Sun/Oracle Java SDK on Ubuntu?

Since 11.10 Ubuntu does not provide the sun-java-jdk, how do I install it?

NOTE: Some of the contents of this answer might have become obsolete and there are some comments where people have reported problems. You're advised to read through the comments first.

Ubuntu 11.10 Oneric

sudo apt-get install python-software-properties
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ferramroberto/java
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install sun-java6-jdk sun-java6-plugin

[Source]

Ubuntu 12.04 Precise

Clean up the historical open jdk:

sudo apt-get purge openjdk*

Add a new repo and install the sdk:

sudo apt-get install python-software-properties
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:eugenesan/java
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install oracle-java7-installer

If you want the JRE and the browser plugin:

sudo apt-get install python-software-properties
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:webupd8team/java
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install oracle-java7-installer

[Source]

Ubuntu 12.04 (Precise Pangolin) - another way

Thanks to the comments, please note that you can try this method too: http://www.liberiangeek.net/2012/04/install-oracle-java-jdk-7-in-ubuntu-12-04-precise-pangolin/

Make the sun java the default

You may want to also add the following

sudo update-alternatives --config java

You should get the following

Selection Path Priority Status

0 /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/java 1 auto mode 1 /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/java 1 manual mode * 2 /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/jre/bin/java 1 manual mode

Press enter to keep the current choice[*], or type selection number: 2

Select (2) and press enter

Now running:

java -version

Returns:

java version "1.7.0_04" Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.7.0_04-b20) Java HotSpot(TM) Server VM (build 23.0-b21, mixed mode)

There is very good page on official Ubuntu wiki. There you can find all recommended methods. I've used this excellent automatic script.

Make sure git is installed:

sudo apt-get install git

Sun/Oracle Java 1.6.0

Build local debs:

wget https://raw.github.com/flexiondotorg/oab-java6/master/oab-java.sh
chmod +x oab-java.sh
sudo ./oab-java.sh

Script will build packages from source and place them in local repo, then they can be installed e.g.:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install sun-java6-jdk sun-java6-fonts sun-java6-source

You can see all available packages in /var/local/oab/deb

Remember to select the right version:

sudo update-alternatives --config java

To setup everything else (like browser plugin, keytool, etc.) you can use this (it will be a long list!):

sudo update-alternatives --all

The script is a wrapper for this Debian script, if you're curious ;)

Oracle Java 1.7.0_51

There is an Issue 123 currently in OAB and a pull request

Here is the patched vesion:

wget https://raw.github.com/ladios/oab-java6/master/oab-java.sh
chmod +x oab-java.sh
sudo ./oab-java.sh -7

sudo apt-get update
sudo sudo apt-get install oracle-java7-jdk oracle-java7-fonts oracle-java7-source