4 Steps to installing Java on a Debian system…

Detailed Steps

1 – Get the Java SDK from Sun…

Get it here: http://java.sun.com/

2 – Install the Debian package “java-package” … as root:

# apt-get install java-package

You may also need “fakeroot” … as root:

# apt-get install fakeroot

3 – Create the .deb Package File

This step should be done as a non-root user. Create a temporary directory and copy the java .bin installer file (from Sun) into it. then run the command:

$ fakeroot make-jpkg <SUN JAVA SDK FILENAME>.bin

4 – Install the Java .deb Package … as root:

# dpkg -i <GENERATED DEB PACKAGE FILENAME>.deb

Final Verification

Execute the following to verify that the install worked:

$ java -version

Quick Summary

As root:

# apt-get install java-package

As yourself:

$ fakeroot make-jpkg <java-binary-package-name>.bin

As root:

# dpkg -i <created-package-name>.deb

This article drew heavily from How to Install Sun Java on Debian, which may be found at the following address: http://www.crazysquirrel.com/debian/install-sun-java.php.