I'm not quite sure how I got into this mess, but for some reason I'm not able to change the current version of Java using alternatives. I can run alternatives --config java and type my selection but when I echo the version number for either java or javac, it spits back out 1.5 every time (despite alternatives showing the current version is 1.6). The server I'm working with is running RHEL5, by the way.

I have verified that the paths used in alternatives are pointing to the correct directories. Here's some output from my session:

[brilewis@myserver]$ sudo /usr/sbin/update-alternatives --config java

There are 3 programs which provide 'java'.

Selection Command

** 1 /usr/lib/jvm/jre-1.4.2-gcj/bin/java
+ 2 /usr/java/jdk1.5.0_10/bin/java
3 /usr/java/jdk1.6.0_16/bin/java

Enter to keep the current selection[+], or type selection number: 3

[brilewis@myserver]$ java -version

java version "1.5.0_10" Java(TM) 2 Runtime Environment, Standard Edition (build 1.5.0_10-b03) Java HotSpot(TM) Server VM (build 1.5.0_10-b03, mixed mode)

[brilewis@myserver]$ sudo /usr/sbin/update-alternatives --config java

There are 3 programs which provide 'java'.

Selection Command

** 1 /usr/lib/jvm/jre-1.4.2-gcj/bin/java
2 /usr/java/jdk1.5.0_10/bin/java
+ 3 /usr/java/jdk1.6.0_16/bin/java

Enter to keep the current selection[+], or type selection number: