JDK Product Registration FAQ

This FAQ about Java Development Kit (JDK) Product Registration provides brief answers to common questions about registering the JDK and service tags, the technology that makes JDK Product Registration possible.

JDK Product Registration
  1. How do I register the JDK?
  2. How can the JDK be registered on systems without internet connectivity or in a headless environment?
  3. Is JDK Product Registration required?
  4. Why do I need a Sun Developer Account to register the JDK?
  5. What are the benefits of registering the JDK?
  6. What information is collected by the JDK Registration process?
  7. When is the JDK Registration information sent to Sun?
  8. What information is sent to Sun?
  9. Where can I view the Hardware and Software Assets I've registered with Sun?
  10. What versions of the JDK support registration?
  11. Will the JDK be registered if it is part of a bundle?
  12. How do I unregister an instance of the JDK?
Service Tags
  1. What is a Service Tag?
  2. Where are Service Tags stored on the system?
  3. What information is stored by the JDK in the Service Tags stored on the system?
  4. Where can I find out more about Service Tags?

JDK Product Registration

1. How do I register the JDK?

See "Registering the JDK" in the JDK Product Registration Information page.


2. How can the JDK be registered on systems without internet connectivity or in a headless environment?

In the case that a system doesn't have an internet connection or is in a headless environment, you can complete JDK registration from another system that supports a browser and has internet connectivity by opening the register.html file located in the directory where the JDK is located on your system (typically C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.6.0_05 on Windows,   /usr/jdk/jdk1.6.0_05 on Solaris and  /usr/java/jdk1.6.0_05 on Linux).. You may need to copy the register.html file to the other system if it is not accessible.


3. Is JDK Product Registration required?

No, registration is optional, but there are many benefits to registering (see "What are the benefits of registering the JDK?").


4. Why do I need a Sun Developer Account to register the JDK?

JDK registration information is available online along with the other products that you've registered by logging into the Sun Inventory Channel using your Sun Developer Account (or other Sun Online Account).  If you do not have an existing account, you can create one during the registration process.  Information about the benefits of having a Sun developer Account are available at Why Join the Sun Developer Network?


5. What are the benefits of registering the JDK?

By registering, the user can track installed JDK instances online, along with other Sun software and hardware assets, through the Sun Inventory Channel and enjoy the following additional benefits:
   
6. What information is collected by the JDK Registration process?
 
See "About the Product Registration Data Sun Collects" in the JDK Product Registration Information page.


7. When is the JDK Registration information sent to Sun?

See "WHEN Is Information Sent to Sun?" in the JDK Product Registration Information page.


8. What information is sent to Sun?

See "WHAT Information is Sent to Sun?" in the JDK Product Registration Information page. 


9. Where can I view the Hardware and Software Assets I've registered with Sun?

All of your registered hardware and software is visible through the Sun Inventory Channel. Simply log in using your SDN or other Sun Online Account.


10. What versions of the JDK support registration?

JDK 6 Update 5 and later will support registration.  JDK 6 Update 4 supports the creation of service tags on Solaris and Linux Service Tags 1.1.2.  You can discover and register JDK 6 Update 4 with the Registration Manager client tool web-started at https://sunconnection.sun.com/inventory.


11. Will the JDK be registered if it is part of a bundle?

Yes. For example, an instance of the JDK bundled with GlassFish or NetBeans will be included as part of their registration process for the versions that support it.


12. How do I unregister an instance of the JDK?

Log into the Sun Inventory Channel using your SDN or other Sun Online Account and select Gear -> View Gear.  Highlight the instance of the JDK that you would like to delete, and select Actions -> Delete Gear.


Service Tags

13. What is a Service Tag?

A service tag enables automatic discovery of systems, software, and services. It uniquely identifies each tagged asset and allows asset information to be shared over a local network in a standard XML format. JDK service tags allow instances of the JDK installed on a system to be discovered and registered under a user's account on Sun Connection.


14. Where are Service Tags stored on the system?

Service Tags are stored in the System Service Tag Registry.  A system service tag registry is a XML-based registry that contains the service tags of all the tagged components on a system. The system service tag registry is present on systems that have the ST software installed. On Solaris/Linux system, the system service tag registry is located at /var/sadm/servicetag/registry/servicetag.xml described by /usr/share/lib/xml/dtd/servicetag.dtd.


15. What information is stored by the JDK in the Service Tags stored on the system?

See the answer to What information is sent to Sun? above.


16. Where can I find out more about Service Tags?

Additional information about Service Tags can be found in the Sun Connection Service Tag FAQ and the Java SE 6 Update Release Notes.