java-1.4.2-ibm, java-1.5.0-ibm and java-1.6.0-ibm enhancement update

64-bit PowerPC (PPC64) java-1.4.2-ibm, java-1.5.0-ibm and java-1.6.0-ibm
packages are now available for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 Extras.

IBM® Java™ releases include the IBM Java 2 Runtime Environment (JRE) and
the IBM Java 2 Software Development Kit (SDK).

This update adds the (64-bit) PowerPC (PPC64) versions of the
java-1.4.2-ibm, java-1.5.0-ibm and java-1.6.0-ibm packages to Red Hat
Enterprise Linux 4 Extras.

For PPC64 users, there are several advantages to, or considerations for,
running the 64-bit JVM over the 32-bit version. Those benefits include:

* a wider datapath between RAM and the CPU, which improves the performance
of memory-bound applications.

* 64-bit memory addressing, which provides virtually unlimited heap
allocation (1 exabyte).

* applications which run with more than 1.5 GB of RAM should consider using
the 64-bit Java versions over the 32-bit versions. Applications which
require only minimal heap sizes will gain no advantages by running the
64-bit JVM.

* IBM PPC64 Java releases do not provide a browser plug-in; users who
require the browser plug-in for Java should use the 32-bit Java versions.

Note: users who install both the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of the IBM's
Java releases can switch between them using the "alternatives" command as
the root user:

alternatives --config java

The alternatives command will then present a textual dialog, allowing the
preferred JRE or SDK (out of all installed on the system) to be selected.
Be aware that changing the Java compiler (javac) and the Java SDK
environment variable are separate commands: "alternatives --config javac"
and "alternatives --config java_sdk_1.5.0" (as an example for Java 1.5)
respectively.

All users with 64-bit PowerPC (PPC64) systems who require 64-bit versions
of the java-1.4.2-ibm, java-1.5.0-ibm or java-1.6.0-ibm packages now have
access to these, along with the 32-bit versions, in the Red Hat Enterprise
Linux 4 Extras channel.

Before applying this update, make sure that all previously-released
errata relevant to your system have been applied.

This update is available via Red Hat Network. Details on how to use
the Red Hat Network to apply this update are available at
http://kbase.redhat.com/faq/docs/DOC-11259

456106 - ppc64 versions of java-1.{4,5,6}-ibm missing in RHEL4