The latest Java Runtime Environment 1.6.0_65 (a.k.a. JRE 6u65-b14) and later updates on the JRE 6 codeline
are now certified with Oracle E-Business Suite Release 11i and 12 for Windows-based desktop clients.
Effects of new support dates on Java upgrades for EBS environments
Support dates for the E-Business Suite and Java have changed. Please review the sections below for more details:
What does this mean for Oracle E-Business Suite users?
Will EBS users be forced to upgrade to JRE 7 for Windows desktop clients?
Will EBS users be forced to upgrade to JDK 7 for EBS application tier servers?
All JRE 6 and 7 releases are certified with EBS upon release
Our standard policy is that all E-Business Suite customers can
apply all
JRE updates to end-user desktops from JRE 1.6.0_03 and later updates on
the 1.6 codeline, and from JRE 7u10 and later updates on the JRE 7
codeline. We test
all new JRE 1.6 and JRE 7 releases in parallel with the JRE development
process, so
all new JRE 1.6 and 7 releases are considered certified with the
E-Business Suite on
the same day that they're released by our Java team. You do not need to wait for a certification announcement before
applying new JRE 1.6 or JRE 7 releases to your EBS users' desktops.
What's new in in this Java release?Java 6 is now available
only via My Oracle Support for E-Business Suite users. You can find
links to this release, including Release Notes, documentation, and the
actual Java downloads here:
All Java SE Downloads on MOS (Note 1439822.1)
32-bit and 64-bit versions certified
This certification includes both the 32-bit and 64-bit JRE
versions.
32-bit JREs are certified on:
Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3)
Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) and Service Pack 2 (SP2)
Windows 7 and Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1)
64-bit JREs are certified only on 64-bit versions of Windows 7
and Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1).
Worried about the 'mismanaged session cookie' issue?
No need to worry -- it's fixed. To recap: JRE releases 1.6.0_18
through 1.6.0_22 had issues with mismanaging session cookies that affected some users in some circumstances.
The fix for those issues was first included in JRE 1.6.0_23. These
fixes will carry forward and continue to be fixed in all future JRE
releases. In other words, if you wish to avoid the mismanaged session
cookie issue, you should apply any release after JRE 1.6.0_22.
Implications of Java 6 End of Public Updates for EBS Users
The Support Roadmap for Oracle Java is published here:
Oracle Java SE Support Roadmap
The latest updates to that page (as of Sept. 19, 2012) state (emphasis added):
Java SE 6 End of Public Updates Notice
After February 2013, Oracle will no longer post updates of Java SE 6 to
its public download sites. Existing Java SE 6 downloads already posted
as of February 2013 will remain accessible in the Java Archive
on Oracle Technology Network. Developers and end-users are encouraged
to update to more recent Java SE versions that remain available for
public download. For enterprise customers, who need continued access to
critical bug fixes and security fixes as well as general maintenance for
Java SE 6 or older versions, long term support is available through Oracle Java SE Support .
What does this mean for Oracle E-Business Suite users?
EBS users fall under the category of "enterprise users" above.
Java is an integral part of the Oracle E-Business Suite technology
stack, so EBS users will continue to receive Java SE 6 updates from February 2013 to the end of Java SE 6 Extended Support in June 2017.
In other words, nothing changes for EBS users after February 2013.
EBS users will continue to receive critical bug fixes and security
fixes as well as general maintenance for Java SE 6 until the end of Java SE 6 Extended Support in June 2017.
How can EBS customers obtain Java 6 updates after the public end-of-life?
EBS customers can download Java 6 patches from My Oracle Support. For a complete list of all Java SE patch numbers, see:
All Java SE Downloads on MOS (Note 1439822.1)
Will EBS users be forced to upgrade to JRE 7 for Windows desktop clients?
This upgrade is highly recommended but remains
optional while Java 6 is covered by Extended Support. Updates
will be delivered via My Oracle Support, where you can continue to
receive critical bug fixes and security fixes as well as general
maintenance for JRE 6 desktop clients.
Java 6 is covered by Extended Support until June 2017. All E-Business Suite customers must upgrade to JRE 7 by June 2017. Coexistence of JRE 6 and JRE 7 on Windows desktops
The upgrade to JRE 7 is highly recommended for EBS users, but
some users may need to run both JRE 6 and 7 on their Windows desktops
for reasons unrelated to the E-Business Suite.
Most EBS configurations
with IE and Firefox use non-static versioning by default. JRE 7 will
be invoked instead of JRE 6 if both are installed on a Windows desktop.
For more details, see "Appendix B: Static vs. Non-static Versioning and
Set Up Options" in Notes 290807.1 and 393931.1.
Applying Updates to JRE 6 and JRE 7 to Windows desktops
Auto-update will keep JRE 7 up-to-date for Windows users with JRE 7 installed.
Auto-update will only keep JRE 7 up-to-date for Windows users with both JRE 6 and 7 installed.
JRE 6 users are strongly encouraged to apply the latest Critical
Patch Updates as soon as possible after each release. The Jave SE CPUs
will be available via My Oracle Support. EBS users can find more
information about JRE 6 and 7 updates here:
Information Center: Installation & Configuration for Oracle Java SE (Note 1412103.2)
The dates for future Java SE CPUs can be found on the Critical Patch Updates, Security Alerts and Third Party Bulletin. An RSS feed is available on that site for those who would like to be kept up-to-date.
What do Mac users need?
Mac users running Mac OS 10.7 or 10.8 can run JRE 7 plug-ins. See this article:
EBS 12 certified with Mac OS X 10.7 and 10.8 with Safari 6 and JRE 7
Will EBS users be forced to upgrade to JDK 7 for EBS application tier servers?
JRE is used for desktop clients. JDK is used for application tier servers
JDK upgrades for E-Business Suite application tier servers are highly recommended but currently remain
optional while Java 6 is covered by Extended Support. Updates
will be delivered via My Oracle Support, where you can continue to
receive critical bug fixes and security fixes as well as general
maintenance for JDK 6 for application tier servers.
Java SE 6 is covered by Extended Support until June 2017. All EBS customers with application tier servers on Windows, Solaris, and Linux must upgrade to JDK 7 by June 2017. EBS customers running their application tier servers on other operating systems should check with their respective vendors for the support dates for those platforms.
JDK 7 is certified with E-Business Suite 12. See:
Java (JDK) 7 Certified for E-Business Suite 12 Servers
References
Recommended Browsers for Oracle Applications 11i (Metalink Note 285218.1)
Upgrading Sun JRE (Native Plug-in) with Oracle Applications 11i for Windows Clients (Metalink Note 290807.1)
Recommended Browsers for Oracle Applications 12 (MetaLink Note 389422.1)
Upgrading JRE Plugin with Oracle Applications R12 (MetaLink Note 393931.1)
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