Upgrading java jre that comes with Harvest

Products

• CA Harvest Software Change Manager - OpenMake Meister
• CA Harvest Software Change Manager

Issue/Introduction

A network security audit is recommending to upgrade all versions of Java on the SCM Server to the latest version.  Can this be done?

Environment

Harvest Software Change Manager v13.x and higher

Cause

Java is needed for SCM Workbench, the Eclipse Plugin, and any custom Java programs or scripts associated with SCM UDP processes. SCM Client installs with its own copy of the Java JRE in the %CA_SCM_HOME%\jre folder, and will not use any other copy of Java installed on the machine. You can see the version of Java that is included with Harvest by executing the following from a command prompt window:

"%CA_SCM_HOME%\jre\bin\java" -version

This can be upgraded to the latest Java, if needed.

Resolution

1. Shut down all SCM-related processes running on the machine.
   
   
2. Backup and then delete the %CA_SCM_HOME%\jre folder.  If you have trouble deleting all the files in the %CA_SCM_HOME%\jre folder, see the Additional Information section below.
   
   
3. Install the new version of JRE to its default location.
   
   
4. Copy the jre folder from the default location to the %CA_SCM_HOME% folder. If the jre folder in its default location is named to include the version (for example C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.8.0_131) you will need to rename SCM’s copy to just jre.

Additional Information

There are some instances where Windows will put a lock on certain files with the %CA_SCM_HOME%\jre folder, making it impossible to delete the folder.  This most often happens with certain True Type Font (ttf) files.  The following method will allow you to delete these files, even if the system has a lock on them.

 

1. Open a command prompt window in "Run as administrator" mode and navigate to %CA_SCM_HOME%
2. Execute the delete command to eliminate all but the locked files:
   

   del /f/s/q jre

     
   You will get error messages about the ttf files in the lib\fonts folder.  No worries at this point.
   
   
3. Reboot the machine (I think this is what releases the hold on those files after the rest of the jre folder is gone)
   
   
4. Open a command prompt window in "Run as administrator" mode and navigate to %CA_SCM_HOME%
   
   
5. Execute the delete command again:
   

   del /f/s/q jre

    
   This time the ttf files are successfully deleted.
   
   
6. Execute the remove directory command to remove the remaining folder structure:
   

   rmdir /s/q jre

    
   At this point the %CA_SCM_HOME%\jre folder should be completely gone. 

Additional note: The Harvest components were tested and certified with the version of Java that is bundled with the installation.  While upgrading to a newer version of JRE or one from a different software vendor should not pose a problem in most cases we cannot guarantee complete compatibility.  To request that Harvest be certified with a certain version or brand of Java, please open an enhancement request "Idea" on the Harvest Community website.