Which versions of Firefox actually support Java Plugins?
Up until yesterday I've been using Firefox ESR 52.1.0 (64-bit) in order to access a VPN I need for work, which requires a Java plugin. I'm also running Firefox Developer Edition 54.0a2 (2017-04-20) (64-bit). Yesterday I updated Java to "Version 8 Update 131 (build 1.8.0_131-b11)", and I can longer use Java plugins on any version of Firefox, which means I can no longer access the VPN.
It was my understanding that The ESR versions of Firefox would continue to support Java through into 2018, but this has not been my experience.
Are there any specific issues with these versions of Firefox that prevent Java Plugins from working, or is this an issue with that version of Java itself?
Thanks!
Chosen solution
After almost a day of messing around with various configuration options for Java, Firefox and a few other browsers trying to get this thing to work again, rolling back to Java V8 121, whilst not an ideal solution, seems to have done the trick.
For anyone else using a Checkpoint SSL Network Extender on a Mac, I suggest not updating Java until they start supporting browsers other than IE again... https://supportcenter.checkpoint.com/supportcenter/portal?eventSubmit_doGoviewsolutiondetails=&solutionid=sk113410
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Chosen Solution
After almost a day of messing around with various configuration options for Java, Firefox and a few other browsers trying to get this thing to work again, rolling back to Java V8 121, whilst not an ideal solution, seems to have done the trick.
For anyone else using a Checkpoint SSL Network Extender on a Mac, I suggest not updating Java until they start supporting browsers other than IE again... https://supportcenter.checkpoint.com/supportcenter/portal?eventSubmit_doGoviewsolutiondetails=&solutionid=sk113410
I uninstalled 131, I rolled back to 121 (both 32 & 64 bit), and same problem and Java gives message of "Starting with Firefox Version 52 (released in March 2017), Firefox has limited support for plug-ins, and therefore will not run Java. Use the Java Control Panel to find the installed Java version."
Note that the Firefox 54.0 DE version has been discontinued and users will be moved over to the beta version.
The current Firefox 52.1.1 esr version should still support the Java plugin AFAIK. Make sure that you have the Java plugin present in the correct location in case the Java updater didn't do this properly.
- https://developer.mozilla.org/Gecko_Plugin_API_Reference/Plug-in_Basics#How_Gecko_Finds_Plug-ins
- /Library/Internet Plug-Ins
- ~/Library/Internet Plug-Ins
In Mac OS X v10.7 and later, the ~/Library folder is a hidden folder.
I have had Firefox since sometime in 2006, have use it exclusively, part of why I liked it is the JAVA plugins. I saw my first computer in about 1960 at Argonne National Laboratory (actually saw the "donuts" of iron core memory), started programming in 1967. Have been working with them since that time. I finally thought that I would try Java programming and started looking to get a developer's kit. Imagine my "joy" to find Mozilla has now dropped support. Guess it is time to find another browser. What a pain in the {biblical donkey}!
Websites will have to use Java Web Start to launch a Java application in an external standalone window instead of using an applet to open this embedded in a web page.
A Java Web Start JNLP file is basically a XML file that the server sends as application/x-java-jnlp-file and that is opened by the default application for this MIME type (Java Web Start). Java then handles everything on its own, but there is no longer embedding possible like a plugin offers. Java registers this MIME type when you install the Java program.