Where can I find a particular version of the IBM JDK/JRE for Windows?

Question

I'm trying to get a rather JDK-sensitive piece of Oracle software working with Websphere, and I need to find some particular versions of the IBM JDK to try. The problem is that IBM doesn't really make these readily available like Sun/Oracle does with theirs, and all the versions I've been able to get my hands on haven't worked for one reason or another.

Specifically, I need one of:
IBM Java 5 SR9 for Windows (ideal)
IBM Java 5 SR2 for Windows
IBM Java 5 SR10 for Windows

How could I get these directly from IBM? My company has a support contract for Websphere, and I hopefully could have one of our Websphere engineers download it if I can tell them where to go.

If there's no direct download, what are some good free products with IBM JDKs that I could scavenge an old version like this from?

Answer 1

Yes IBM JRE/JDK is typically shipped with products, not stand-alone.

How about you get the WebSphere version that is the target for your activity and install that? Won't that give you what you need? The Single server edition is comparatively small footprint.

Answer 2

Previously I've found that the Eclipse bundles from IBM also contain the IBM JVM. This might still be the case but the bundles are too big for me to check now.

See http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/eclipse/downloads/

Answer 3

I hate to answer with the obvious... but if you have a support contract with IBM, why not just call IBM support? If you haven't seen it already, IBM's main JDK page is at: https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/java/jdk/.

However, the Windows offerings are pretty pitiful. IBM hasn't released a new JDK for the Windows platform since early-2006. That JDK was of the Java 5 generation, but there's no indication on the download page (or in the installer's file name) of an SR version. I can't install it and check for you, because of the other Windows caveat of which I hope you're aware: The IBM JDK will not install on a Windows machine unless the installer detects an IBM BIOS.

Given that IBM sold their PC division to Lenovo, I'm not even sure that it is possible AT ALL to install their standalone JDK on a contemporary box. I would contact IBM support if you have a contract... they might be able to tell you differently.

Either way, the preceding answer points at another possibility. IBM frequently bundles its JDK/JRE, without the crazy restrictions found in the standalone version, inside of other downloads. For instance, I know that WebSphere Community Edition (i.e. IBM's version of Apache Geronimo) comes with one. Good luck finding the specific version you need... but if you do, and don't mind the possibility of violating some license legalese, then you can just ZIP up that directory and copy it to the target machine.

This whole topic is a damn shame. In terms of bechmarks and runtime performance, the IBM JDK/JRE has always been awesome. However, on the larger "ecosystem" level it's always sucked.

Answer 4

(Unless you work for IBM) there is no way to download the IBM JDK separately. It's shipped with the IBM Rational Suite of Software IBM develops.

The IBM JDK comes also with IBM Java Profiler (which isn't free).

The Eclipse Platform that is found here https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/eclipse/downloads/helios/#download is similar to the Eclipse download found on the Eclipse Site. IBM makes it easier for those who can't afford WebSphere Application Developer or Rational Application Developer (which are both Eclipse flavour) to use Eclipse.

Answer 5

I don't know if this is still true(but this was certainly true in the past), but here is the story.

Due to Java License restrictions earlier, the JDK cannot be provided alone by vendors like IBM.

I am unable to pull this info from any IBM site at the moment but i am pretty certain about these license restrictions in the past.

Here is a post by another gentleman in this space: From : http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/forums/thread.jspa?messageID=14514070

Blockquote

Unfortunately you can get hold of the JDK only as part of another IBM product (say, Websphere or any Rational product) that you purchased. Our licensing agreement with Sun/Oracle forbids us from providing direct downloads of the IBM JDK on any platforms that Oracle/Sun also support (namely Windows and Linux). If you look at the Java downloads section of the developerWorks website, you'll only find SDKs for AIX, z/OS and Linux on System p/z, since those are IBM owned platforms that Oracle doesn't support.

Since the JDK is shipped along with Websphere/Rational/Tivoli products, you can use it if you already have one of them deployed(though even then you may have SR8 FP1, unless you also install the very latest fix packs for those products).

Blockquote

Answer 6

Here's a page with some IBM JDKs made available on developerWorks that may be useful to you.

https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/java/jdk/

Answer 7

the SR9 fix pack for WAS V6.1.0.25 is available here - http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg24023276. Click on the FTP link to download the PAK file (and rename to zip).