Java(TM) Platform SE binary

[pham_mn]

Hello All,

During install th CF2018, I got this error, please see the attached image.  I was trying to install CF2018 into a governement laptop and have no admin privilege.  What is this Java has something to do with CF2018, and without it, can CF 2018 rusn properly.

Thank you

[Charlie Arehart]

This is not an error. It is indeed something one sees on Windows the first time a Java app runs, and yes, cf runs on Java (as an app server, formally Apache Tomcat). If you Google the phrase in the box, you'll find discussions (having nothing to do with CF).

Or maybe someone else may have still more to suggest. My money is on bkbk. 🙂 

[BKBK]

My money is on bkbk. 🙂 

By Charlie Arehart

No pressure. 🙂

[BKBK]

During install th CF2018, I got this error, please see the attached image.  I was trying to install CF2018 into a governement laptop and have no admin privilege.  What is this Java has something to do with CF2018, and without it, can CF 2018 rusn properly.

By pham_mn

1.  What javaw.exe is?
        The applications java.exe and javaw.exe are identical in function, with one exception. You can launch java.exe in a (DOS) console window, whereas javaw.exe does not require a console window.
       For example, in applications that use Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) it is inconvenient, even startling, for a console window to pop up, asking for Java input. Such applications make use of javaw.exe instead of java.exe.
   
   
2. Does javaw.exe have something to do with CF2018? 
       Yes.
       CF2018 requires java.exe, but that is not the whole story.
       Some peripheral services that CF2018 uses might require javaw.exe. Think in particular of services that make use of a GUI. For example, the ColdFusion Administrator and the Add-On services.  Members of the Adobe ColdFusion Team are best placed to tell us more.
   
      As an example, if you take a look at the file C:\ColdFusion2018\cfusion\jetty\jetty.lax, you will see a setting similar to
   

   lax.nl.current.vm=C:\\ColdFusion2018\\jre\\bin\\javaw.exe​

   
   I suppose that is why the installer would request permission for javaw.exe. However, there wasn't a similar security alert for java.exe. Which should make you wonder.
   
   Is the path in the security alert allowed? Is it even legal? You will note that it is under some specific user's local directory, in a temporary, number-encoded sub-directory.
   
   For this reason, I am inclined to think that the particular javaw.exe file in the picture was simply cached during a previous operation. I do not expect it to have any effect on your installation.  

[Charlie Arehart]

Well, no bkbk. Neither the cf admin nor the cf add-on service use a Java gui. I'm not aware of anything in cf using any Java gui, since the change in cf10 where the cf afmin features to "browse" to select files on the server switched from being a Java applet to a jquery ui.

So as for the Javaw.exe, I will conform that indeed the add-on service uses that as how it's started, per the jetty.lax. But again it's not because it uses a gui, at all. It's simply because the jetty engine--on which it's based and as is embedded by Adobe into cf--just happens to use it.

So again, Hung Pham, this prompt is a very normal one, and it's not unique to cf. It would happen the first time one ran a given app like cf or tomcat or lucee, or any app that accepted incoming requests. And if you could tell it to proceed, it would add that app as an inbound rule to the windows firewall and you'd just move on.  I understand how it could appear disconcerting. Again, to learn more, just Google for resources discussing the message in that pop-up. No need to refer to cf in such a search, so you will see how very common this is.

But Hung Pham, I am noticing now that your screenshot is showing you can only "cancel" this prompt, not "allow access". I gather you're not an admin on this machine, with this being such a "government laptop". In that case, it seems you'll need to get your admin to allow it, to accept incoming requests.

Is your question whether cf will run if you just cancel it? Well, again that prompt you show is about javaw, which cf itself does not use. Is your cf running, the cf admin and your cf sites? 

[BKBK]

Well, no bkbk. Neither the cf admin nor the cf add-on service use a Java gui. I'm not aware of anything in cf using any Java gui, since the change in cf10 where the cf afmin features to "browse" to select files on the server switched from being a Java applet to a jquery ui.

So as for the Javaw.exe, I will conform that indeed the add-on service uses that as how it's started, per the jetty.lax. But again it's not because it uses a gui, at all. It's simply because the jetty engine--on which it's based and as is embedded by Adobe into cf--just happens to use it.

By Charlie Arehart

I disagree, particularly in the case of Jetty. Using javaw.exe implies you can extend the Jetty installation with a GUI. In any case, I was cautious enough to add: "Members of the Adobe ColdFusion Team are best placed to tell us more." 

So again, Hung Pham, this prompt is a very normal one, and it's not unique to cf. It would happen the first time one ran a given Java for use with tomcat, or lucee, or any Java app, and then when a new Java version is implemented. And if you can tell it to proceed, you'd just move on.  I understand how it could disconcerting. Again, to learn more, just Google for resources discussing the message in that pop-up. No need to refer to cf in such a search, so you will see how very common this is.

I wouldn't say that. Are you sure it isn't malicious software? Windows Security has flagged it for a reason. 

[Charlie Arehart]

I am sure on both points.

[BKBK]

Suppose I am building a Java application, X. Some key requirements are:

• At least one way to install X will be by means of a GUI.
• The application X should include the Jetty service. That is, Jetty should be embedded in X.
• It should be possible to install Jetty during the installation of X.

In this scenario, it is befitting to use javaw.exe (instead of java.exe) to run Jetty's installer. The reason is given above: running javaw.exe is convenient when you use a GUI, as it doesn't require a console window.

ColdFusion 2018 fits the description of X.

@pham_mn , that is just to explain. I do not think that the javaw.exe file referred to in the picture has anything to do with your ColdFusion 2018 installation.