Changing the JRE

By default, Reflection X installs and uses a private Java Runtime Environment (JRE). This installed JRE is correctly configured to fully support all Reflection X features. It is also possible to configure Reflection X running on Windows to use a different JRE. The information that follows is provided for administrators who want to configure Reflection X to use a separately installed JRE.

notes

Micro Focus supplies updated Java installation packages as needed to provide customers with Java security updates. These packages can be downloaded and applied independently of updates to the main Reflection X package. If you update the JRE using a Micro Focus Java package, your JRE is automatically configured correctly. The information below is not required for these installations; it is provided for users who want to update their JRE without using the Micro Focus installer.
If you want to use the private JRE installed by the Micro Focus Java package, you must select the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) feature in the installation feature tree. In addition to running the associated Java installer, this feature modifies settings in the Windows registry that configure Reflection X to use the private JRE.
If you want to use a custom JRE, ensure that it is the 64-bit version.

JRE Search

Reflection X running on Windows uses the following search order to locate a JRE on your system.

The private JRE installed with Reflection X when you include the feature "Java Runtime Environment (JRE)."
The path specified in an environment variable called RXA_JRE_HOME. See instructions below for configuring this variable.
A system JRE that has already been installed on your system using the Oracle installer.

If no JRE is available, the Reflection X applications do not run and the Reflection X application log files include a message saying that the application failed to start because the JVM is not available. (This message also appears as a warning in the Windows Event log.)

The Reflection X application logs provide information about which JRE is used. Search for "JVM_EXE." For example:

INFO [...] JVM_EXE is: C:\Program Files\Common Files\Micro Focus\JDK\Java11\jre\bin\java.exe

JRE Error and Warning Messages in the Log Files

If you run domain mode, the JRE must be configured for unlimited strength cryptography. This is the default since Java 8u161. If you have a non-default JRE configuration, see Step 3: Configure Java for unlimited strength cryptography.

A fatal error is written to the rxs.log when you attempt to start the Reflection X Service using a JRE that is not configured for unlimited strength cryptography.

Warnings are written to the application log files if:

The running JRE is older than the version shipping with this build of Reflection X.
The running JRE is for a "client" environment, not a "server" environment. To resolve this, see the instructions below for installing a Java Development Kit (JDK) from the Oracle site.
You run X Manager using a JRE that is not configured for unlimited strength cryptography. Neither export-controlled crypto algorithms nor FIPS mode will be available. To resolve this, see Step 3: Configure Java for unlimited strength cryptography.

Installing and Configuring a JRE

Use the following procedures to configure Reflection X running on Windows to use a non-default JRE.

The default JRE installed from a browser is for a "client" environment, not a "server" environment. Reflection X requires the server JRE for full functionality. You can download and install this from the Oracle website.

Step 1: Install a Java JDK from the Oracle site

Go to the Java SE Downloads page.

Download and install the 64-bit JRE using either the JDK download (which installs the server JRE) or the Server JRE download.

Download the most recent update of the major version of Java that was included with Reflection X. For version 17.0, download the most recent Java 11 update.
After installing the JRE, run the following command to confirm that the JRE version reported is the version you downloaded:
```
/<java-path>/bin/java -version
```
For example:

# /jdk/jdk11.0.9_nn/jre/bin/java -version { #-/jdk/jdk11.0.9_nn/jre/bin/java--version }
java version "11.0.9_nn"

Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 11.0.9_nn-b01)

The next procedure configures an environment variable that directs Reflection X applications to use the correct JRE.

Step 2: Configure the RXA_JRE_HOME variable

Open the Windows System Properties dialog box.
From the Advanced tab click Environment Variables.

Under System variables, click New, define a new variable as follows, then click OK.


Variable name	`RXA_JRE_HOME`
Variable value	The location of the Java JRE. Point to the JRE located in the JDK installation. This is the JRE configured for a server environment. For example: `C:\Program Files\Java\_jdk11.0.9_<nn>\jre`

Click OK to close the open dialog boxes.

Step 3: Configure Java for unlimited strength cryptography

Since Java 8u161, unlimited strength crypto is the default. If you use a non-default JRE configuration, you must ensure your JRE is configured for unlimited strength crypto.

The following steps should only be necessary if you have a non-default JRE configuration:

note

Each time you upgrade your JRE, you need to make sure your JRE is configured for unlimited strength crypto.

Open the <java home>/conf/security/java.security file.
Make sure the crypto.policy value is set as follows:

"crypto.policy=unlimited"

Uninstall the default JRE

If you're setting up an alternate JRE and have already installed the default JRE with Reflection, you must uninstall the default JRE. To do this, use the following procedure:

To uninstall the default Micro Focus JRE

Open the Apps & Features control panel. (On older Windows systems, this Control Panel is called Add or Remove Programs.)
Select the entry with your Reflection product name — not the Java entry — and click Change.
On the Feature Selection tab, click the icon to the left of Java Runtime Environment (JRE) and select Feature will be Unavailable.
Click Continue.