Many thanks. That clarifies it greatly for me. 

NDI
==============================================================
Hi,
I've read all the thread on this, didn't know which one to jump into, so I'm 
just jumping up at the top of the thread.
 
Scientific Linux 4.4 (and all the 4.x) comes with java 1.4.2 by default when 
you install a web browser during the install.  This basically gives you the 
java plugin right out of the box.
(You can unselect it during install, but that's not part of this discussion)
 
But, what get's installed is really 2 rpms.
   j2sdk - 1.4.2-x
   java-1.4.2-sun-compat - 1.4.2.x
 
The j2sdk is the java from sun.
The java-1.4.2-sun-compat is from JPackage.  This rpm put's all the links and 
stuff into the proper places, so that you automatically get the plugin, have 
java, javac, and everything else you need in your path.  In short, it makes 
java "just work".
For those of you who have downloaded sun's java rpm, you know why 
java-1.4.2-sun-compat is needed.  If you just install the java rpm, nothing is 
in your path.  Everything is just in /usr/java.
 
How to get rid of the java 1.4.2 that comes with Scientific Linux 4.x
 
   rpm -e j2sdk java-1.4.2-sun-compat
 
You actually can do just
   rpm -e java-1.4.2-sun-compat
 
and leave the 1.4.2 rpm, but ... there is a catch.  Whenever we do a security 
updated on java ... the blasted update rpm removes any other java rpm's you 
have.  We're working on fixing this, but currently don't have a solution.  So I 
suggest, you completely remove the 1.4.2 if you arn't using it.
 
Troy
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