This is a comprehensive guide on how to download, setup, install Java Runtime Environment(JRE) and set java environment variable on IBM AIX 7.1 operating system.

Find CPU type

Check whether you need 64bit or 32 bit java version

Run following command and check CPU Type.

prtconf

Download JRE

JRE is part of SDK in AIX. You will not be able to download separate package of JRE for AIX.

Download link:

https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/java/jdk/aix/service.html

Unpack JRE Tar file

tar –xvf Java8_64.jre.tar

You will get Java8_64.jre file which is backup/restore format

Install JRE

Run following commands

inutoc .
smitty installp

You need super user rights to run inutoc . command. Login as su or use sudo –i

Press Install software

Enter ./home/<username>/

This is location refers to which location you have extracted your file to install.

Select ACCEPT new license agreement? Press tab to change the parameter

Press F10 to exit

$

Confirm Java installation

lslpp -l | grep -i java

Set JAVA_HOME environment variable
If you are using bash, ash, ksh or some other Bourne-style shell
Open .profile file, add JAVA_HOME line and add java path. The .profile file looks like below after changes.

JAVA_HOME=/usr/java8_64/jre;export JAVA_HOME
PATH=/usr/java8_64/jre/bin:/usr/bin:/etc:/usr/sbin:/usr/ucb:$HOME/bin:/usr/bin/X11:/sbin.
export PATH

if [ -s "$MAIL" ] # This is at Shell startup. In normal
then echo "$MAILMSG" # operation, the Shell checks
fi # periodically.

Restart putty session

Verify Java version and JAVA_HOME variable

JAVA_HOME

$ echo $JAVA_HOME
/usr/java8_64/jre

Java Version

$ java -version
java version "1.8.0"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build pap6480sr1fp10ifix-20150723_01(SR1 FP10+IV75420))
IBM J9 VM (build 2.8, JRE 1.8.0 AIX ppc64-64 Compressed References 20150722_258693 (JIT enabled, AOT enabled)
J9VM - R28_jvm.28_20150722_1718_B258693
JIT - tr.r14.java_20150625_95081.02
GC - R28_jvm.28_20150722_1718_B258693_CMPRSS
J9CL - 20150722_258693)
JCL - 20150711_01 based on Oracle jdk8u51-b15