With the recent ColdFusion releases, we have come across many queries regarding Java updates. The table below shows the default Java shipped with the supported versions.

Now, let us look at the supported Java versions for ColdFusion 2016,11 & 10.

Once the support for a major version of Java is added, it also covers all the minor/sub versions.

Upgrading to Java 1.8:

1. Download the latest version of Java from http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/jdk8-downloads-2133151.html. Please make sure that you download 64-bit Java for 64-bit ColdFusion and 32-bit Java for 32 bit ColdFusion.
2. Run the installer to install Java.
3. Take a backup of jvm.config(located at <cf_install_root>cfusionbin)
4. To change from ColdFusion’s default Java, modify the Java home url in either jvm.config or in ColdFusion administrator (Settings ->Java and JVM -> Java virtual machine path).
5. Restart ColdFusion after making the changes.
6. To verify the update, log in to ColdFusion Administrator and see verify the newer Java version .

If you are using Web Services, please do the following:

1. Take a backup of tools.jar from {cf_install_home}/cfusion/lib/
2. Copy tools.jar from {JDK8_Home}/lib to {cf_install_home}/cfusion/lib/
3. Clear the stubs from {cf_install_home}/cfusion/stubs/ to get the newly compiled classes.

Note: Any SSL certificates added to the previous JDK will also need to be re-added to the new JDK (cacerts) file.

You can use Java keytool tool located in Javajre1.8.0_XXbin to import the certificate.  You can use the below command:

keytool -import -alias name -keystore Javajre1.8.0_XXlibsecuritycacerts -file mycert.cer

Java upgrade issues and troubleshooting

1. If you are unable to start ColdFusion after the Java update:

• Check the location of Java home in jvm.config.
• The Java auto-update modifies the Java install directory location, which causes failure to ColdFusion start. Disable the java auto upgrade.
• Try starting ColdFusion from command line to see specific errors. If the error is "Error loading: C:Program FilesJavajdk1.X.Xjrebinserverjvm.dll", then copy the msvcr100.dll file to <cf_install_root>/cfusion/bin from {JDK8_Home}/bin (for Windows OS).

2. After importing certificates, if you have issues related to SSL, then you need to enable debugging for SSL. Take a backup of jvm.config at ColdFusioncfusionbin and add -Djavax.net.debug=all under the “Arguments to VM” in jvm.config. This would require a CF service restart. The argument would append the debugging info to the coldfusion-out.log at ColdFusioncfusionlogs.