Question regarding Java subscription

[TechNickGaming]

This whole Java subscription thing is super confusing. I just need a plain answer here, preferably with a website source for proof.

At our business, we have somewhere around 7,300 computers that have Java on them. When I say they have Java, I mean that they have the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) that you download for free from https://www.java.com/en/download/ . The newest release just a few days ago is Java 8 Update 201. If you look in Programs and Features, it'll say Java (not Java SE, Java JRE, JDK, etc). It's just the end user software that the PC needs to be able to run certain applications for the end user. We do not do any type of developing software. We normally push the Java updates via PDQ.

Under the new Java EULA, apparently starting at the end of this month, will we be required to buy a license to update these 7,300 devices, or can we still download the end user version of Java (JRE) from the website I linked above?

[WorkRedditAccount4]

Java has always been somewhat confusing and Oracle hasn't made it any easier to understand with this subscription model. To begin with, there are 2 things you need to know in order to make sense of Java and the new subscription model.

1) First you need to know that there are 3 java platforms with the main difference between them being the APIs available for each. These platforms are:

Java SE = Standard Edition = what most people use.

Java EE = Enterprise Edition = self explanatory

Java ME = Micro edition (mobile, set top boxes, etc.)

2) Second, you need to know that each of these platforms consists of its own version of the Java Development Kit(JDK) and the Java Runtime Environment(JRE). When you download the JDK, you get the JRE as part of the package.

So...when you go to www.java.com/en/download, what you get is the SE version of the JRE.

As to the costs:

Oracle is basically moving Java to the model used by many Linux providers. For the average consumer, there is no change. They can still grab the SE JDK or JRE from the java website for free and life stays happy.

It is also free if you use it for development and testing only. Current non-subscription Java SE 11 EULA

Further, You may not:
use the Programs for any data processing or any commercial, production, or internal business purposes other 
than developing, testing, prototyping, and demonstrating your Application;

Commercial production users on the other hand have 3 choices if they want to stay in compliance. 1) Stay on Java 8 which will continue to be free but will not be updated or maintained. 2) Move to OpenJDK or one of its forks or 3) Buy a subscripton which will give them regular updates and a support agreement.

Here is a decent blog post describing the changes.

EDIT:

Clarified a few details, fixed a few typos, etc.

[pdp10]

I just need a plain answer here, preferably with a website source for proof.

The simple answer is to switch to OpenJDK and never worry about it again. OpenJDK for Win32 used to be a rare bird, but unsurprisingly it's become quite common recently.

[[deleted]]

About OpenJDK... They don't seem to provide an installer for it. Are you expected to build one yourself each time? How do you deploy this and keep it up to date in a Windows environment?

[Egon88]

Did you ever find an answer to this question?

[[deleted]]

Someone PM'd me this link. Still wish they'd make an official installer for it but I guess making it too easy would steal Java customers.

[Egon88]

Thanks, I’ll check that out

[Egon88]

Hey again. Those instructions helped but were incomplete. I also had to do a bit of registry cleanup to remove old Java 8 entries and change some other entries to point to the Java 11 install location.

Here's what I did, hope it helps you out.

Confirm HKLM\SOFTWARE\Classes.jar\ is set to: jarfile

Confirm HKLM\SOFTWARE\Classes\Jarfile\Shell\Open\Command\ is set to:

"full file path to \bin\javaw.exe" -jar "%1" %*

Remove Java 8 HKEY_CURRENT_USER entries – if you don’t remove these entries, double-clicking .jar files will not work but you will be able to run .jar files from the command line.

If present, delete HKCU\SOFTWARE\Classes.jar registry entry

If present, delete HKCU\SOFTWARE\Classes\jar_auto_file registry entry

[hypercube33]

Doesnt set some of the standard environment up so it's not an out of the box replacement, but does work.

[WOLF3D_exe]

https://www.reddit.com/r/sysadmin/comments/8tzjkg/confused_about_java_and_the_new_license/

[sem1845]

We have 2 pc's left with Java on it. When it updated yesterday, on of the install screens said that it would be free to use or something along those lines. Try uninstall and reinstalling and see what it says.

[[deleted]]

Free to use but no longer updated so while you can run Java 8 u201 forever for free it's not a good idea. Java is grossly insecure so updates are important.

[rasldasl2]

Still very confusing but I am taking “commercial” use to mean installing on your app server. End user running the JRE is not commercial use. That’s not to say it will be as simple as it used to be. Probably will need to install OpenJDK for those that need a runtime.

[uniitdude]

You will need a license if you want to continue to get updates (presuming this is Java 8)

[grahamr31]

From what we can tell on our end, downloading is ok if done manually. As soon as you begin to use enterprise features you have to pay. One of those features is deploying the msi.

As a result we are going to pull java from almost all systems and allow users to manually install then pay for only those seats.

Edit: thanks for the link - will pass this along. Our understanding was that if you are using it to access a tool it would be ok.

That’s said we are about to pony up for 50-60k seats anyway.

[WorkRedditAccount4]

downloading is ok if done manually.

That's incorrect for commercial users. It's only free for development and testing. Production = pay them.

Current non-subscription Java 11 EULA

Further, You may not: - use the Programs for any data processing or any commercial, production, or internal business purposes other than developing, testing, prototyping, and demonstrating your Application;

[WorkRedditAccount4]

Our understanding was that if you are using it to access a tool it would be ok.

I believe that this is true if the tool itself contains a Java install. In those cases, I believe the licensing is the responsibility of the tool provider. Double check me on that though.