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Updating the IBM Java SDK which is configured for use by Firefox on the management host in an IBM Smart Analytics System 5600 environment

Troubleshooting


Problem

You are required to update the IBM Java SDK installed on the management host in your IBM Smart Analytics 5600 environment.

Cause

The IBM Smart Analytics System 5600 contains a management host that is installed with the Mozilla Firefox browser. The browser is configured to use IBM Java SDK for Java Web Start applications. The IBM Java SDK configuration is required to allow administrators to access the administration console for the integrated management module (IMM) on each server in the IBM Smart Analytics System environment. You should access only the internal administration consoles with this version of Firefox to avoid the security risks associated with accessing external websites that might run untrusted code. If you require access to external websites from your IBM Smart Analytics System environment, you need to update the IBM Java SDK.

Environment

All IBM Smart Analytics System 5600 environments.

Diagnosing The Problem

1. Log in to the management host and start the Firefox browser.

  • If the browser is disabled on the management host, then your system is not exposed to the security vulnerability. No further action is required.
  • If the browser is able to access the internet (for example, http://www.ibm.com), then skip to step 2 to determine if your system is at risk.
  • If the browser is not able to access the internet but is able to access the internal corporate network, proceed to step 2.

2. Determine which version of the IBM Java SDK is registered in the Firefox browser to run Java Web Start applications, which should be enabled for the root user. The following steps are for Firefox version 3.5.2, and should be similar for later versions of the Firefox browser.



a. Click Edit > Preferences.

b. Click the Application tab.

c. Identify the JNLP file entry in the Content Type column. If there is no JNLP file entry, then the Java Web Start application in the Firefox browser is not configured to use the IBM Java SDK, and your system is not exposed to the security vulnerability.

Important: If you do configure the Firefox browser to use the IBM Java SDK for Java Web Start applications at a later point in time, you must complete all steps in this procedure to address the security vulnerability.

d. Click the Action tab. The value in the description field should be javaws.

e. Click Application Details.

f. To find the installation path for the IBM Java SDK, identify the line that contains the string "The application is located at:" in the Application Details window. The path displayed in the window determines the Java SDK version that is used to run Java Web Start applications.

g. Determine the version of Java installed on your system. Navigate to the directory where the Java SDK is installed and run the following command:
    java -version
The default Java JRE installation path is /opt/ibm/java-x86_64-60/jre/bin.

The Java version is returned as the first line of the command output.
    java version "1.6.0"
    Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build pxa6460sr13ifix-20130303_02(SR13+IV37419))
    IBM J9 VM (build 2.4, JRE 1.6.0 IBM J9 2.4 Linux amd64-64 jvmxa6460sr13-20130114_134867 (JIT enabled, AOT enabled)
    J9VM - 20130114_134867
    JIT  - r9_20130108_31100
    GC   - 20121212_AA)
    JCL  - 20130303_02

h. Compare the version of Java installed on your system with the version specified in the security bulletin.
    • If the version installed on your system is equivalent to or is later than the version specified in the security bulletin, no further action is required.
    • If the version installed on your system is earlier than the version specified in the security bulletin, use the instructions in the Resolving the problem section to install the required Java version on your system.

Resolving The Problem

1. Download the appropriate IBM Java SDK version and transfer it to the management host. The IBM Java SDK downloads are found at the following URL: http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/java/jdk.

Release SDK VersionUpdated SDK Version
Java 6Refer to the security bulletin.
Java 5Refer to the security bulletin.
Java 142Refer to the security bulletin.


2. Install or update to the new version of the IBM Java SDK.


3. Update the Firefox configuration to use the sdkdir/bin/javaws from the newly installed SDK, where sdkdir represents the installation directory of the IBM Java SDK.

[{"Product":{"code":"SSKT3D","label":"IBM Smart Analytics System"},"Business Unit":{"code":"BU050","label":"BU NOT IDENTIFIED"},"Component":"IBM Smart Analytics System 5600","Platform":[{"code":"PF016","label":"Linux"}],"Version":"9.7","Edition":"","Line of Business":{"code":"","label":""}}]

Document Information

Modified date:
16 June 2018

UID

swg21633470

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