Java from Oracle not being installed when imaging.

[tuinte]

Hey all:

Completely new to the scene so forgive my ignorance.

Right now I'm just trying to build a few configurations (Casper Admin) for imaging new machines. We need Java 7 update 11. I've downloaded the dmg from Oracle's site and done snapshots in Composer to create a dmg package. I upload this into Casper Admin, etc. But when I'm imaging this test machine, all the applications get installed but Java 7 update 11. There's no Java preference pane in System Preferences, and I'm getting Missing Plugin messages in a browser. I've tried with just a base OS and only the Java plugin, but still no go.

I assume I'm missing something obvious. Any ideas?

[nessts · Accepted solution]

I believe that the Oracle Java package has to install on a live system, so you need to make sure that package is installing at first boot, there is a checkbox in the casper workflow on that package, or you can wrap it to install via a launch daemon at firstboot whatever works best for you.

[mm2270 · Accepted solution]

I would also recommend not repackaging the Oracle Java 7 Update 11 installer. You can use it as is, since its already in .pkg format and just throw it into Casper Admin and into your workflows. There are some installers you shouldn't repackage unless you have no other choice. That installer has some script logic in it that checks the OS version (needs to be 10.7.3 or higher) among other things that will be missing if you capture it in a snapshot. It may not matter that much for imaging if you're only building new machines, but if you planned on using that same installer later in a policy you'd want to be sure its working properly across any OS versions.

[johnklimeck · Accepted solution]

I had the almost the same issue a few days ago, (missing PrefsPane), and it was nicely suggested to not use Composer / Snapshot (does not work for whatever reason), just use the Java JRE .pkg itself.

[nessts · Accepted solution]

I believe that the Oracle Java package has to install on a live system, so you need to make sure that package is installing at first boot, there is a checkbox in the casper workflow on that package, or you can wrap it to install via a launch daemon at firstboot whatever works best for you.

[johnklimeck]

Not sure if this is helps, the way I did it was take our existing 10.8.2 image and update Java to the latest 11-b21. That is now our latest (adjusted) 10.8.2 image used in Casper Imaging.

Once you get Java 1.7 installed, and then use the latest 11-b21 Java JRE .pkg itself, that will directly update Java to the latest 11-b21.

I actually am doing this in Self Service, so users can just click it and get the latest Java 1.7 update. Working for us.

[mm2270 · Accepted solution]

I would also recommend not repackaging the Oracle Java 7 Update 11 installer. You can use it as is, since its already in .pkg format and just throw it into Casper Admin and into your workflows. There are some installers you shouldn't repackage unless you have no other choice. That installer has some script logic in it that checks the OS version (needs to be 10.7.3 or higher) among other things that will be missing if you capture it in a snapshot. It may not matter that much for imaging if you're only building new machines, but if you planned on using that same installer later in a policy you'd want to be sure its working properly across any OS versions.

[johnklimeck · Accepted solution]

I had the almost the same issue a few days ago, (missing PrefsPane), and it was nicely suggested to not use Composer / Snapshot (does not work for whatever reason), just use the Java JRE .pkg itself.

[russell_kennyOL · Accepted solution]

yeah, i came across this one recently too, with it being able to install via casper remote and via policy but not via imaging. you need to tick the checkbox "this package must be installed to the boot volume at imaging time" on the .pkg itself in Casper Admin.
the machine will then boot into another screen and install this along with your first run items.

Cheers

[franton]

Interesting. Our software deployment is done via iHook over the loginwindow. Deploying Java 7r11 works fine with this method.

[ImAMacGuy]

is it worth the hassle to installe Oracle's version vs waiting for Apple's? I think Oracle's version doesn't actually address the issue, it just sets security settings to very high or something along those lines + there was another 0 day exploit out that it didn't address (not as much of a backlash against the 2nd one apparently), so there would be another one coming eventually

[tuinte]

Good day, all:

Incredible response. Thanks to everyone.

I got it working by using the package as-is from Oracle and running it via the FirstRun script. I feel like I already tried that, but I guess not.

That being said, I appreciate all of the help. Lovely community.

jwojda: I agree, but timesheets here are done via a Java app and Apple's Java never works quite right for it.

[scottb]

is it worth the hassle to installe Oracle's version vs waiting for Apple's?

jwojda, what do you mean? AKAIK, Apple is done with Java now.

[ImAMacGuy]

they are? I thought they were doing the java updates still with 1.6?