Using alt-java

OpenJDK 8

Red Hat Customer Content Services

Abstract

OpenJDK 8 is a Red Hat offering on the Red Hat Enterprise Linux platform. The Using alt-java guide provides an overview of alt-java, defines the differences between java and alt-java binaries, and explains how to use alt-java.

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Chapter 1. Overview of alt-java

Red Hat packages contain a mitigation for the SSB vulnerability in the form of a patch for the java binary. This patch disables an optimization present in x86-64 (Intel and AMD) processors. Disabling that optimization reduces the risk of kernel side-channel attacks, but also reduces CPU performance.

Since the patch reduces performance, it has been removed from the java launcher. A new binary alt-java is now available. From the January 2021 Critical Patch Update release (1.8.0 282.b08, 11.0.10.9) onwards, the alt-java binary is included in OpenJDK 8 and OpenJDK 11 GA RPM packages.

Additional resources

Chapter 2. Differences between java and alt-java

Similarities exist between alt-java and java binaries, with the exception of the SSB mitigation.

Although the SBB mitigation patch exists only for x86-64 architecture, Intel and AMD, the alt-java exists on all architectures. For non-x86 architectures, the alt-java binary is identical to java binary, except alt-java has no patches.

Additional resources

  • For more information about similarities between alt-java and java, see RH1750419 in the Red Hat Bugzilla documentation.

Chapter 3. alt-java and java uses

Depending on your needs, you can use either the alt-java binary or the java binary to run your application’s code.

3.1. alt-java usage

Use alt-java for any applications that run untrusted code. Be aware that using alt-java is not a solution to all speculative execution vulnerabilities.

3.2. java usage

Use the java binary for performance-critical tasks in a secure environment. Most RPMs in a Red Hat Enterprise Linux system use the java binary, except for IcedTea-Web. IcedTea-Web uses alt-java as its launcher, so you can use IcedTea-Web to run untrusted code.

Additional resources

Chapter 4. Performance impact of alt-java

The alt-java binary contains the SSB mitigation, so the SSB mitigation performance impact no longer exists on java.

Note

Using alt-java might significantly reduce the performance of Java programs.

You can find detailed information of some Java performance issues that might exist with using alt-java by selecting any of the Red Hat Bugzilla links listed in the Additional resources section.

Additional resources

Revised on 2022-05-03 16:18:04 UTC

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