Installing Java on Ubuntu Linux

Download the JRE (J2RE) or JDK (J2SDK) from:

Sun Java 1.5.0 for 32-bit x86 and AMD64

I got the JRE since I don't think I need the J2SDK.

Install java-package:

sudo apt-get install java-package

Create the Java deb package with make-jpkg

fakeroot make-jpkg jre-1_5_0_11-linux-i586.bin
ls *deb
sun-j2re1.5_1.5.0+update11_i386.deb

Install the Java deb package

sudo dpkg -i sun-j2re1.5_1.5.0+update11_i386.deb

Verify installation

java -version
Java(TM) 2 Runtime Environment, Standard Edition (build 1.5.0_11-b03)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 1.5.0_11-b03, mixed mode, sharing)