Figure 20-1 Java Control Panel General Tab

20.1.1 About

The about section provides information about the version of Java that you are running. Click About to view version information for the latest JRE installed on the computer.

20.1.2 Network Settings

The Network Settings section enables you to configure your connection to the network. Click Network Settings to show the Network Settings dialog, which offers the following choices:

Use browser settings

Select this option to use the browser default proxy settings. This is the default setting.

Use proxy server

Select this option to provide the address and port number of the proxy server that you want to use. The option to bypass the proxy server for local addresses is available.

To provide separate addresses for different protocols, click Advanced. You can also specify address that bypass the proxy server.

Use automatic proxy configuration script

Select this option to specify the URL for the JavaScript file (.js or .pac extension) that contains the FindProxyForURL function. FindProxyForURL has the logic to determine the proxy server to use for a connection request.

Direct Connection

Select this option if you do not want to use a proxy.

20.1.3 Temporary Internet Files

The Temporary Internet Files section enables you to manage files that are cached for applications that are embedded in a web page or launched from a web page.

Click Settings to show the Temporary Files Settings dialog from which you can perform the following actions:

• Specify if you want to keep temporary files on your computer.

• Specify the location where temporary files are kept.

• Specify the compression level for JAR files.

• Specify the amount of disk space for storing temporary files.

• Delete temporary files by pressing the Delete Files button, which shows the Delete Temporary Files dialog. From this dialog, you can specify the files that you want to delete:

  • Trace and Log Files

  • Cached Applications and Applets

  • Installed Applications and Applets

• Restore default settings for the Temporary Files Settings dialog by pressing the Restore Defaults button.

Click View to show the Java Cache Viewer dialog. This dialog enables you to list applications, resources, and deleted applications stored in the Java cache. In addition, you can perform the following actions:

• Run and visit the Web page of applications.

• View the JNLP file of applications and resources.

Figure 20-2 Java Control Panel Update Tab

20.2.1 Update Tab Options

The Update tab provides the following options:

• Automatic update: Available only on Microsoft Windows, and set by default

• Manual update

Select Check for Updates Automatically to have your JRE updated automatically on a schedule that you set. From the Notify Me drop-down list, choose to be notified either before the update is downloaded, or after the updated is downloaded but before the update is installed.

Click Advanced to set up the schedule for updates. To set how often the system checks for updates, choose Daily, Weekly, or Monthly. The default is monthly. For daily updates, you can select the time of the day for the update. For weekly updates, you can select the day of the week and the time of the day. For monthly updates, you can select the day of the week and the time of the day. Monthly updates check weekly and notify you within 30 days that an update is available, however, if an update is considered critical you are notified within a week of its release.

To immediately update your JRE at any time, click Update Now.

20.2.2 Java Update Scheduler

On Microsoft Windows platforms, the Java Update Scheduler, jusched.exe, is used to launch automatic updates when the option to update automatically is selected in the Update tab. jusched.exe runs as a background process that launches the Update Manager at predefined intervals set by the user using the Advanced button of the Update tab. The Update Manager coordinates the update process.

jusched.exe is launched when the user reboots the computer after installing the JDK or JRE. It is normally transparent to the user, but can be viewed in the Processes tab of the Windows Task Manager. If you do not want the scheduler to run, use the End Process button of the Processes tab to kill the process.

Figure 20-3 Java Control Panel Java Tab

20.3.1 Java Runtime Environment Settings

The Java Runtime Environment Settings dialog has two tabs, User and System. Both tabs show a table that contains information on the JREs that are installed on your system. The User tab shows all of the registered JREs and JREs that the user has added. The System tab shows the JRE that was used to start the Java Control Panel.

Each row in the table represents a Java Runtime Environment (JRE) that is installed in your computer. The following information is provided for each JRE:

• Platform: The version of the JRE

• Product: The full version number of the JRE, including the update number

• Location: The URL that Java Update Scheduler uses to launch automatic updates

• Path: The full path to the JRE

• Runtime Parameters: Optional custom options used to override the Java Plug-in default startup parameters

• Enabled: Flag that indicates which of the JRE versions are considered when running an application using Java Plug-in or Java Web Start. Settings in the Java Control Panel do not apply to standalone or self-contained applications. If the check box for a JRE is not selected, then Java Plug-in and Java Web Start will not use the JRE to launch Java applications. However, the current JRE might be used even if it is not marked as enabled.

  
  

  Note: If Java content in the browser is disabled in the Security tab of the Java Control Panel, enabling the JRE in the Java Runtime Environment Settings dialog has no effect. See Section 20.4, "Security" for information on the Enable Java Content in the Browser option.

  
  

To change the information for a JRE in the User tab, click the cell in the table and edit the value. The information in the System tab cannot be edited.

In the User tab, the following functions are available:

• Click Find to launch the JRE Finder. Use this utility to search for JREs that are installed on your computer and add them to the table.

• Click Add to manually add a JRE to the table. A new row is added to the table. Fill in the values for Platform, Product, Path, Runtime Parameters, and Enabled.

• Click Remove to remove the selected JRE from the table.

The table always has at least one entry, which is the most recently installed JRE. This is the JRE that is associated with the Java Control Panel.

Microsoft Windows shows all of the JREs that are installed on a computer. The Java Control Panel finds the JREs by looking in the registry. On Solaris, Linux, and OS X, the JRE that Java Web Start or Java Plug-in is using to deploy applications is the JRE that is considered registered. Therefore, use the Find, Add, and Remove buttons to change which JREs are listed in the table. On OS X, only the currently installed JRE is displayed, JDKs are not included.

For Solaris, Linux, or OS X, only version 5.0 or higher should be added. For Microsoft Windows, where all JREs are found in the registry, version 1.3.1 or higher is shown.

20.3.2 Java Runtime Parameters

You can override the Java Plug-in default startup parameters by specifying custom options in the Runtime Parameters column for a JRE. With the exception of setting classpath and cp, the syntax is the same as that used with parameters for the java command line invocation. See the java command for a full list of command line options:

java command: Windows, Solaris, Linux, or OS X.

The following sections provide examples of Java runtime parameters.

-classpath=<path>
-cp=<path>

-[ enableassertions | ea ][:<package name>"..." | : <class name> ]

-[ disableassertions | da ][:<package name>"..." | : <class name> ]

-[ enableassertions | ea ]:sun.plugin

-Ddeployment.trace=true
-Ddeployment.trace.option=basic|net|security|ext|liveconnect

-Ddeployment.trace.filename=<tracefilename>

-Ddeployment.logging=true

-Ddeployment.log.filename=<logfilename>

-Ddeployment.outputfiles.overwrite=false

-Djava.compiler=NONE
-Xnoagent
-Xdebug
-Xrunjdwp:transport=dt_shmem,address=<connect-address>,server=y,suspend=n

-Dsun.net.client.defaultConnectTimeout=<value in milliseconds>

-Dsun.net.client.defaultReadTimeout=<value in milliseconds>

Figure 20-4 Java Control Panel Security Tab

20.4.1 Security Level

The security level determines the criteria used to allow or block a Java application from running within a browser or being launched from a browser. As the security level is increased, more restrictions are placed on allowing an application to run, and stronger warnings are issued to the user.

The default security level setting is High. The available settings are:

• Very High - Applications that are signed with a valid certificate that is located in the Signer CA keystore, and include the Permissions attribute in the manifest for the main JAR file are allowed to run with security prompts. All other applications are blocked.

• High - Applications that are signed with a valid certificate that is located in the Signer CA keystore, and include the Permissions attribute in the manifest for the main JAR file are allowed to run with security prompts. Applications are also allowed to run with security prompts when the revocation status of the certificate cannot be checked. All other applications are blocked.

See Chapter 24, "Rich Internet Application Deployment Process" for information on how the decision to run or block an application is made.

The Security Level setting affects plug-in applets, Java Web Start applications, embedded JavaFX applications, and access to the native deployment toolkit plug-ins. This setting does not affect standalone or self-contained Java applications.

For more information, see Section 23.1, "Setting the Security Level of the Java Client."

20.4.2 Exception Site List

The exception site list contains a list of URLs that host RIAs that users want to run even if the RIAs are normally blocked by security checks. RIAs from the sites listed are allowed to run with applicable security prompts. Click Edit Site List to add, edit, and remove items.

See Chapter 29, "Exception Site List" for more information.

20.4.3 Deployment Rule Set

If an active deployment rule set is installed on the system, the link View the active Deployment Rule Set is shown before the Manage Certificates button. Click the link to view the rule set. For information on the certificate used to sign the rule set, click the View Certificate Details link in the Deployment Rule Set - More Information window.

When a rule set is available, the rules determine if a RIA is run without security prompts, run with security prompts, or blocked. For more information on deployment rules, see Chapter 28, "Deployment Rule Set". For more information on security prompts, see Section 23.5, "Security Dialogs."

20.4.4 Restore Security Prompts

An option to hide a prompt in the future is included in some security prompts that are shown when an application starts. To insure the continued security of your system, it is recommended that you periodically restore the prompts that were hidden. Seeing the prompts again provides an opportunity to review the applications and ensure that you still want them to run.

To restore the prompts that were previously hidden, click Restore Security Prompts. When asked to confirm the selection, click Restore All. The next time an application is started, the security prompt for that application is shown.

20.4.5 Manage Certificates

User-level and system-level certificates used to sign RIAs that you run can be managed by clicking Manage Certificates. From the Certificates dialog, you can import, export, remove, and view the details for certificates. Information is provided for the following types of certificates:

• Trusted Certificates - Certificates for signed RIAs that are trusted.

• Secure Site - Certificates for secure sites.

• Signer CA - Certificates of Certificate Authorities (CAs) who issue the certificates to the signers of trusted certificates.

• Secure Site CA - Certificates of CAs who issue the certificates for secure sites.

• Client Authentication - Certificates used by a client to authenticate itself to a server.

C:\Users\jsmith\AppData\LocalLow\Sun\Java\Deployment\security

Figure 20-5 Java Control Panel Advanced Tab, Part 1

Figure 20-6 Java Control Panel Advanced Tab, Part 2

20.5.1 Debugging

You can enable tracing and logging.

20.5.2 Java Console

The following choices are available:

• Show the console

• Hide the console (default)

• Do not start the console

20.5.3 Default Java for Browsers

The following choices are available, both are selected by default:

• Microsoft Internet Explorer

• Mozilla Family

This option is ignored in current versions of Internet Explorer and Firefox, which automatically find and use the latest installed version of the JRE.

For older browsers, this option enables settings in your browser that enable you to use the JRE installed in your computer.

For example, if you enable this option for Microsoft Internet Explorer, then the option Use JRE <version number> for <applet> (requires restart) is available, where <version number> is the version of the JRE installed in your computer. (Find this option by going to Tools, then Internet Options, then click the tab Advanced.)

In addition, if you enable this option for Mozilla Family, and your browser is Firefox, then the extension Java Console <version number> appears in the Add-ons list, where <version number> is the version of the JRE installed in your computer. (Access the Add-ons list from the Tools menu in the menu bar.)

20.5.4 Shortcut Creation

This option provides the following choices for Java Web Start for creating shortcuts on the desktop, select only one:

• Always allow

• Always allow if hinted

• Prompt user

• Prompt user if hinted (default)

• Never allow

20.5.5 JNLP File/MIME Association

This option enables you to associate files with the JNLP MIME type. The following choices are available, select only one:

• Always allow

• Prompt user (default)

• Never allow

20.5.6 Application Installation

The following choices are available, select only one:

• Install if hinted (default)

• Install if shortcut created

• Install if hinted and shortcut

• Never install

A Java application or applet that is launched with Java Web Start can either be installed or cached on the client computer. If the Java application is cached, then Java Web Start stores the entire application in its cache; the application is removed from the client computer when Java Web Start empties its cache. If the Java application is installed, then the application has an entry in the Add or Remove Programs applet in Windows Control Panel.

A Java application or applet can specify if it prefers to be cached or installed; if the Java application specifies that it prefers to be installed, then it is hinted. By default, Java applications that are hinted are installed on the client computer. You can also specify that a Java application is installed if it creates a shortcut on the client computer's desktop.

20.5.7 Secure Execution Environment

The following choices are available, more than one can be selected:

• Allow user to grant permissions to signed content

• Show sandbox warning banner

• Allow user to accept JNLP security requests

• Don't prompt for client certificate selection when no certificates or only one exists

• Warn if site certificate does not match hostname

• Show site certificate from server even if it is valid (not checked by default)

20.5.8 Mixed code (sandboxed vs. trusted) security verification

The following choices are available, select only one:

• Enable - show warning if needed (selected by default)

• Enable - hide warning and run with protections

• Enable - hide warning and don't run untrusted code

• Disable verification (not recommended)

For more information, see Chapter 27, "Mixing Privileged Code and Sandbox Code."

20.5.9 Perform certificate revocation checks on

Before a signed applet or Java Web Start application is run, the certificates used to sign the JAR file can be checked to ensure that none have been revoked. You can have all certificates checked, or only the certificate from the publisher of the app. If a certificate has been revoked, any RIA that is signed with the certificate is not allowed to run. This check can be disabled, but that is not recommended. The following choices are available, select only on:

• Publisher's certificate only

• All certificates in the chain of trust (selected by default)

• Do not check (not recommended)

20.5.10 Check for certificate revocation using

The following options indicate what to use to determine if a certificate has been revoked, select only one:

• Certificate Revocations Lists (CRLs)

• Online Certificate Status Protocol (OCSP)

• Both CRLs and OCSP (selected by default)

If Do Not Check is selected for Perform certificate revocation checks on, this setting is ignored.

20.5.11 Advanced Security Settings

The following choices are available, more than one can be selected:

• Use certificates and keys in browser keystore

• Enable blacklist revocation check

• Enable caching password for authentication

• Use SSL 2.0 compatible ClientHello format (not checked by default)

• Use TLS 1.0

• Use TLS 1.1

• Use TLS 1.2

20.5.12 Miscellaneous

The following choices are available, none are checked by default:

• Place Java icon in system tray

• Suppress sponsor offers when installing or updating Java

  Select this option if you do not want to be provided with offers from sponsors during the installation or update process.

20.5.13 Command to launch default browser (Solaris, Linux, or OS X only)

Enables you to specify the location of the default browser to be launched.