How to Deploy Java 8 Using SCCM 2012

By Risalatul Hoque

December 22, 2014

13 CommentsUpdate: This deployment does not uninstall previous instance of Java. If you’re looking for a way

to uninstall older Java and replace it with newer Java, follow this tutorial instead:

Uninstall Java Using SCCMThis tutorial only allows you to deploy Java using SCCM and does not uninstall older Java existing in

the system.

In the recent release of Java (version 8), Sun Microsystems had made some significant changes in

their executable (.exe) and that affects how Java can be deployed. In my environment I am using

System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) 2012 for deployment. Even though the change was

subtle, it requires less work for deployment that means the deployment became even easier. I will

show you how we can deploy Java 8.25 using SCCM 2012. The deployment process itself is straight

forward and doesn’t involve any cumbersome code. The newer Java helps eliminate writing long

batch files like we used to have with Java 7 and earlier. I’ll describe step-by-step deployment of Java

8.25 using SCCM 2012.

Step-1: Download the latest offline and appropriate version of Java from the following link:

https://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jspI have downloaded Windows Offline (32-bit) for my deployment purpose.

Download Java

Step-2: Launch the setup but don’t do anything else. Browse to the equivalent path (substitute

“username” with your username):

C:\Users\username\AppData\LocalLow\Sun\Java\jre1.8.0_25

Java MSI File

Get the .msi file from this directory and share it in your network share folder.

Step-3: At this point we have the extracted .msi file in our share drive and we are more than

halfway through. Create a command line executable (.cmd extension) in the network share folder

where you have your extracted Java .msi file. You can do this simply by opening a text editor and

copy/pasting the following:

msiexec /i jre1.8.0_25.msi JU=0 JAVAUPDATE=0 AUTOUPDATECHECK=0 RebootYesNo=No

WEB_JAVA=1 /q

Save the file as install.cmd (The name can anything but make sure you have the right extension

– .cmd)

Java Command Line Executible

Step-4:   We have the following files in our network share folder and we are ready to deploy Java

using SCCM 2012 as a package:

Java Deployment Folder

 

Step-5:  At this point I think you all know where I am going with this but I’d like to share the

detailed step-by-step deployment as promised. We will get into our SCCM 2012, and navigate to

Software Library > Overview > Packages. Right click and select Create Package. Specify some

information about the Java package you are about to deploy.

 

Check the box where it says, “This package contains source files” and browse to the network share

where you have the .MSI and install.cmd. I use Network Path/UNC name while pointing to the

network share folder. Click Next.

Java Deployment Using SCCM 2012

Step-6: Standard Program should already be selected, you can go ahead and click Next. You will

be asked to specify some information about this standard program one more time and you can go

ahead and specify what you feel necessary. Browse for the Command Line and make sure you

select All Files(*.*) and select the install.cmd file that we created in Step 3. For my environment, I

choose to install the software whether or not a user is logged on and that automatically runs the

script with admin rights. Click Next.

Java Deployment in SCCM 2012

Step-7: You can click through the next step or if you’d like specify if you want the deployment to be

available for certain Operating Systems you can do that in this step. Even though it is not necessary,

you can specify Estimated Disk Space and Maximum Allowed Run Time for this deployment. Click

Next. If the Summary seems right, click Next. And you should get a confirmation screen like this:

Java Package in SCCM 2012

Step-8: Click Close as our Java 8 deployment package is ready to roll. Find your newly created

package, right click on it and then select “Distribute Content”. Click Next and Add the Distribution

Point for your environment. Click through the rest of the windows and finally Close when done.

Distribute Java Using SCCM 2012

Step-9: Now go ahead and select your package and click on Deploy. Select a Collection where

you’d like your package to be deployed. I am using a Test Bench collection and will deploy my

package to this collection.

Deploy Java to Collection

Step-10:   Click Next, click Next and choose if you’d like this package to be ‘Available’ or ‘Required’.

If you choose ‘Available’ the user has the option to install it if s/he chooses. But we are going to

require all our computers to have Java so we’ll select ‘Required’.

Java Deployment: SCCM Deployment Wizard

Step-11: In this screen you’ll have the choice to schedule your deployment. For simplification, I am

just going to select ‘As soon as possible’.

SCCM 2012: Java Deployment

Step-12:   Click Next through the rest of the Windows and finally click Close to finish this

deployment. Your package is now deployed to the collection you specified.

I tried to be as thorough as I could in this tutorial. I found out several people having trouble deploying

the Java Version 8X using SCCM and figured this tutorial might help them. If something didn’t work

for you, or if you have question – please do let me know in the comment section and I’ll try my best

to get back to you as soon as I can.