Terminal + Java Installation

This is actually a Linux (Fedora 8) Question. It uses Terminal, which is similar to OS X's Terminal.app So I figure someone may be able to help me out.

I am attempting to install Java runtime environment on Linux, and following the Instructions on the Java site.

I can make the .bin file executable, I can run it in Terminal, View the license agreement, and Install Java in a directory.

The problem comes when attempting to create a "Symbolic Link" to the Java plugin, from the firefox Directory.

"ln -s <path to java file.so>"
"./javaplugin.so"

After doing this, I get "Segmentation Error"

If I try again, I get Error creating symbolic link: File Exists (and it does exist there in the firefox plugin directory)


As of now, firefox will not even start. Does anyone know what could be causing this?

 

Thank you so much for the info. I thought i was gonna drown 'cause I was way over my head with this Linux stuff haha. Hopefully I can do Linux installations similar to this without a problem in the future, but if the need arises, I'll be back. Most programs I need now are self-installing ones from the Fedora "Add/Remove Software" program, and therefore won't immediately require Terminal.


and Sorry about the wait, been a while since I got back on it. I had to re-install Linux because firefox was screwed, and I couldn't un install

After re-installation, I downloaded the java jre-6u6-linux-i586-rpm.bin file (didn't work, one plugin installed but did nothing, the other crashed firefox)

so I deleted it, and got the non rpm file (not sure what the difference is) -- It works fine now.

Anyway, thanks again, this Terminal stuff is really confusing to me, and I consider myself an Advanced user. Not that advanced I guess, but I learn.