Ubuntu 10.04 : My 64 bit adventures

Back in July 2007, not only did I review Ubuntu 6.10, but it had become my operating system of choice. Since then I have used 7.04, 7.10 and 8.04 LTS (Long Term Support), all 32 bit, but recently with a purchase of a couple of new computers. I have moved to 10.04 64 bit, it wasn't without a couple of hardware hiccups, but this blog isn't about them, it is about issues I encountered with 64 bit, rather than 32 bit.

Adobe Flash Player 10, 64 bit

Ubuntu offers a version that uses a 64 bit wrapper on a 32 bit package, which to be honest is pretty awful. Worst than that is the nature of closed source, which means that the 64 bit version of Adobe's Flash Player is still only in a beta test stage and best of all currently unavailable! But don't be put off, the linux community is resourceful and this link http://nxadm.wordpress.com/2009/04/26/install-64-bit-adobe-flash-player-on-ubuntu-904/ includes all requirement to get Flash Player 10 64 bit installed.

Sun Java 6, 64 bit

Ubuntu offers the OpenJDK as a replacement for the closed source of Sun Java, but I found that it was a bit sticky with Facebook. So, here are my instructions for adding Sun Java's official plugin;

Open Ubuntu Software Centre, search for openjdk and remove it

Select Edit and Software Sources, click on Other Software and tick http://archieve.canoncial.com/ubuntu lucid partner.

On clicking close the database cache will update, then search Software Centre for sun java, install the plugin and accept the notices.

Probably not very interesting, but the two issues that I actually had where both around closed source software.