Introduction

Since the release of Hardy Heron it is possible to use the 64-bit browser, Flash, Java, and MPlayer plugins from the Ubuntu repositories. If you need support for more plugins and would like to install a 32-bit version of Firefox to accomplish that, then see the section below.

A 64-bit version of Adobe Flash is currently under development. In 2009 and early 2010, a pre-release version of 64-bit Adobe Flash was temporarily available. A new preview 64-bit version of plugin was made available in September 2010.

64-bit Firefox and 64-bit Flash plugin

For details, see this forum thread.

1. Remove currently installed versions of Flash.

    sudo apt-get purge flashplugin-nonfree flashplugin-installer gnash gnash-common mozilla-plugin-gnash swfdec-mozilla
    sudo rm -f /usr/lib/firefox-addons/plugins/libflashplayer.so
    sudo rm -f /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins/libflashplayer.so
    sudo rm -f /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins/flashplugin-alternative.so
    sudo rm -f /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins/npwrapper*flash*so
    rm -f ~/.mozilla/plugins/*flash*so

2. Install Adobe flash plugin:

   sudo apt-get update
   sudo apt-get install adobe-flashplugin

3. At this stage, you should restart Firefox and verify that the plugin is installed by selecting Tools/Add-ons in the menu. You can check validity of you installation as well as installed version at Adobe - About Flash Player

• Uninstallation instructions:

   sudo apt-get remove adobe-flashplugin

64-bit Firefox and 32-bit Flash plugin (RECOMMENDED: Officially supported by Ubuntu to the extent possible with Flash)

A fallback if the above scenario failed is Ubuntu-packaged 32-bit flash with nspluginwrapper. This option will provide more restricted functionality, for example, a number of flash-enabled web sites will fail in different ways.

• Hardy Heron 8.04: install the following package: apt:flashplugin-nonfree.

• Karmic Koala 9.10 and newer: install the following package: apt:flashplugin-installer.

64-bit Firefox and 64-bit Java plugin

Instructions are different from Firefox 3.5 and Firefox 3.6. For obtaining the latest version of Firefox 3.6 (as of February 2010), refer to FirefoxNewVersion. For more information about changes in Firefox 3.6, see Why do I need Java 6 Update 10 and above for Firefox 3.6 and later versions?

• Firefox 3.6:
• Install Java

    sudo apt-get remove --purge icedtea6-plugin
    sudo apt-get install sun-java6-plugin

• You may need to enable the Partner repository to install the sun-java6-plugin package. Then configure the new plugin.

 sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins/libjavaplugin.so mozilla-javaplugin.so /usr/lib64/jvm/java-6-sun/jre/lib/amd64/libnpjp2.so 50

• Firefox 3.5:

 sudo apt-get install icedtea6-plugin

32-bit Firefox and plugins

Instructions for installation of 32-bit Firefox from Mozilla builds is available at FirefoxNewVersion/MozillaBuilds.

Troubleshooting

For suggestions/discussion please use AMD64/FirefoxAndPlugins/talk

• RealPlayer Issues

  • You may need add the 32-bit version of RealPlayer to your path variable.

• Alternative Installation Solution
  • If the above installation solution did not work for you, there is another solution, requiring the use of WINE.
    1. Make sure the universe repsitory is enabled. In terminal enter:

    sudo apt-get install ia32-libs lib32asound2

    • This will download the necessary 32-bit binaries for WINE.

    • Download the most recent WINE .deb file from http://wine.budgetdedicated.com/archive/index.html. Save the file to your desktop.

    • In terminal enter:

    cd ~/Desktop
    sudo dpkg --force-architecture -i wine_*_i386.deb

    1. Download the Mozilla Firefox exe from http://www.mozilla.com/products/download.html?product=firefox-3.0.9&os=win&lang=en-US. Save the file to your desktop.

    2. In terminal enter:

    cd ~/Desktop
    wine firefox*

    1. Install Firefox normally by following the installer with default settings.
    2. Download Plugins
       1. Open the new link to Firefox that has appeared on your desktop.

       2. Navigate to a website that uses the plugins required (e.g http://youtube.com/ for Flash).

       3. Click the button labled "Install Missing Plugins" in the bar at the top of the page, and install the plugin(s) from the menu shown.
       4. Test by trying to view a page for that plugin.

    NOTE: If you cannot hear any sound with the plugins, open terminal and type "winecfg" and select sound preferences in the audio tab.

CategoryInternet