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Introduction to Java Batch (JSR 352): Lab Setup Instructions (Windows OS: Java 11 and Eclipse)

Below are the standard requirements for this course. If you have any questions or issues, please contact us.

Important Note: Student lab files are required on each computer used for the course. The links for these are not in this lab setup, and you should receive them separately.

Other notes:

  • It’s a good idea to keep downloaded software install files on the machines during the class in case of problems that require a re-install.
  • Cloning a setup is generally not a problem. If it is, we’ll mention it in the software section (for example, much of the IBM/RAD-WAS software can be problematic in this regard).

Hardware and classroom setup.

Each student and the instructor shall have a workstation that fulfills the listed requirements.

  • Required: Intel-compatible processor (with reasonably recent hardware).
  • Memory: 8GB min recommended
  • Disk Space: Free disk space for software installs (generally minimum 2GB)
  • Operating System: Windows OS (Any modern version - e.g. Windows 10. - labs have not been tested on Windows 8 variants)
  • Required: Zip utility. A good free one is 7-zip
  • Required: Adobe Acrobat Reader
  • Required: One of Firefox browser (https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/) or Chrome browser (https://www.google.com/chrome/). Edge browser is not sufficient.
  • Recommended: Internet access
  • Recommended: Class machines networked together - allows students to access a shared network directory.

Install 7-zip 

We’ve found that there are sometimes problems using the built in Windows archive/zip utility. This generally has to do with long path lengths that it can’t handle. Use 7-zip to extract the labs and any software zips which we’ve found very reliable.

  • Can try direct download link for 64-bit install: https://www.7-zip.org/a/7z2301-x64.exe
  • If that doesn’t work, go to home page https://www.7-zip.org
  • Near the top of the page, find the download link for your bitness (probably 64 bit), and download the installer.
  • Execute the installer, and take all the defaults.
  • You can now extract zip files by right clicking on them, and selecting 7-Zip | Extract ...

Lab Files: Each student and instructor must have lab files installed (links to these files are generally sent separately via e-mail).

  • Extract the lab files to a location conveniently accessible to the student (e.g. C:\ )
  • Recommend using utility like 7-zip, not Windows built-in extractor.
  • If using folder other than C:\, make sure that students know where they are.

Other instructor requirements for the classroom

  • Projector or large screen TV capable of 1280x800 or higher resolution. Instructor must be able to use this to project slides.
  • Whiteboard (preferred) or flip charts with markers.

Install Java Development Kit – JDK 11 (11.0.21)

  • Note that any JDK 11 version should work fine. Other close (later) Java versions (e.g. Java 12 or 13) should be fine also, but have not been tested.
  • Download:
  • From https://www.oracle.com/java/technologies/javase/jdk11-archive-downloads.html download the installer file for the Windows x64 Installer
    • File name is something like: jdk-11.0.21_windows-x64_bin

  • Run the installer and take all defaults.

  • Create or modify environment variables. This will add an environment variable JAVA_HOME, and modify your path to include the jdk bin folder. For windows set the following.
    • JAVA_HOME:
      • Navigate to the System Properties widget > click the Advanced tab > click the Environment Variables button
      • In the bottom half of the dialog, click New to add a new System variable
      • Variable name: JAVA_HOME (this is case-sensitive)
      • Variable value: C:\Program Files\Java\jdk-11.0.21 (or adjust to the actual path for your JDK version and where you installed the JDK – please double-check this path – probably best to copy and paste it)
      • Click OK
    • Path:
      • Find this existing entry in the bottom half of the Environment Variables button, and click Edit
      • Click in the Variable value field and move your cursor all the way to the left (pressing Home on your keyboard should do this quickly for you)
      • Check whether the value below is already present, or add it at the beginning if necessary (make sure you get all of this, including the trailing semicolon, with no spaces):

        %JAVA_HOME%\bin;
         
    • Click OK repeatedly (likely in 3 different dialogs) until all the dialogs close.

  • Open a terminal prompt, type the below, and press Enter

    javac -version

  • You should get a message that tells you the version. If the command is not found, you did something wrong.
  • Close the terminal prompt. You’re done installing Java

Install WildFly 18.0.1

  • Download: You can try this direct link first: https://download.jboss.org/wildfly/18.0.1.Final/wildfly-18.0.1.Final.zip
  • If the direct link doesn’t work, go to http://wildfly.org/downloads go to the 18.0.1.Final section
    • In that section, find the zip file link for the “Java EE Full & Web Distribution”
    • The filename will be wildfly-18.0.1.Final.zip
    • Save the file where you can access it easily

  • Extract: Extract the zip file where students can access and run it easily.
    • Windows OS: Common location is C:\
    • Mac OS: Common location is user home directory.
       
  • Create a JBOSS_HOME Environment variable that points to the WildFly install folder (according to your OS needs)
    • Windows OS: Right click My Computer and choose Properties, Click the Advanced tab, Click the Environment Variables butto
    • *nix / Mac OS: Generally done in user’s shell config file (e.g. ~/.bashrc)
  • Create a JAVA_HOME environment variable that points to the Java installation on your system
  • That’s all that needs to be done to install WildFly.

Install Eclipse 2020-06 (or later) for Enterprise Java Developers (Windows OS - 64 bit only)

  • Later or earlier editions should work fine. NOTE: You need at lease the 2018-12 edition for full Java 11 support, so don’t use an earlier one if using Java 11.
  • Download:
  • Extract:
    • Unzip the file - Can extract to C:\, or other location convenient to student (as long as they know it, and can access it)
  • Test
    • Execute the program (double click on the eclipse.exe executable, or a shortcut for it)
    • Accept the default workspace, and let it load
    • Quit Eclipse
       
  • That’s it. You’re done installing Eclipse

​Install JBoss Tools Into Eclipse

  • Start Eclipse:
    • Launch according to your OS and install details - e.g. for Windows, execute C:\eclipse\eclipse.exe, and for Mac, execute from Applications folder.
    • In the dialog that comes up, use whatever workspace location is convenient (the default or something else you choose)
    • Within Eclipse, close the welcome screen (Click the X on its tab)
  • Install JBoss Tools: These are additional Eclipse plugins needed to work with JBoss servers within Eclipse.
    • Within Eclipse, go to the Servers view (It should be visible on a tab on the lower right of the Eclipse window - if not, go to menu item Window | Show View | Servers)
    • In the servers view, right click, and select New | Server
    • In the dialog that comes up, expand the Red Hat JBoss Middleware node, and select the JBoss AS, WildFly and EAP Server Tools item underneath it.
    • Click Next (Note - requires internet access, and you may need to wait a while after this step as packages are downloaded)
    • Eventually, you should see a license agreement - accept the license agreement
    • Click Finish
    • If prompted with a Security Warning about “authenticity or validity cannot be established” click Install anyway (these are all JBoss plugins, and should be fine)
    • If prompted to Restart Eclipse, then do so (Restart now)
  • Set up Server within Eclipse
    • Within Eclipse, go back to the Servers view
    • Right click within the Servers view, and select New | Server
    • In the dialog that opens, expand the JBoss Community node (for WildFly servers) or the Red Hat JBoss Middleware Node (for JBoss EAP servers)
    • Select your server (Note that the EAP servers will likely be an exact match, but if using Wildly select the latest one that is not newer than your server - e.g. WildFly 18 for WildFly 18.0.1)
    • Click Next until you reach the dialog where you chose the server Home Directory (JBoss Runtime dialog), and configure it to point to your server install
    • Click Finish
  • Start the server and test
    • Right click on the server you just created in the Servers view, and select Start
    • Look at the Console View and note the server logging - it should start without any exceptions, and include a log message that the server started near the last logging (If console view not visible - Window | Show View | Console)
    • Browse to http://localhost:8080/ where you should see a simple default home page for the server
    • If the home page is NOT accessible then the server didn’t start properly. Most common cause of this is port conflicts. Check (according to your OS) if port 8080 is in use, and if it is, then stop the process using it. Make sure that you set things up so students will NOT run into this issue.
  • Shut down server and Eclipse
    • Within Eclipse, in Servers view, right click on your server and select Stop
    • Once the server stops, then Quit Eclipse
    • That’s it - you’re done!