Solution 1:

try:

ps aux | grep java

and see how you get on

Solution 2:

Recent Java comes with Java Virtual Machine Process Status Tool "jps"

http://download.oracle.com/javase/1.5.0/docs/tooldocs/share/jps.html

For example,

[nsushkin@fulton support]$ jps -m
2120 Main --userdir /home/nsushkin/.netbeans/7.0 --branding nb
26546 charles.jar
17600 Jps -m