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Blackboard and Changes to Oracle Licensing for Java

Discussion created by feeney.linda on Apr 23, 2018
Latest reply on Feb 11, 2019 by wweichel

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This weekend I was prompted to update Java on my laptop. Following the update was an announcement about changes to licensing for Java. Details at Java Future Release Notices

No doubt, Blackboard will obtain an enterprise license to cover server operations, at least for Managed Hosting and SaaS. Will institutions who self-host have to license individually? And what about the end user? While Java has mostly been removed from the Bb user interface, some vestiges remain. Java is also a part of Blackboard Collaborate (original).

I have logged a call on Behind the Blackboard asking about this issue. I really do not want to experience another mess like Crocodoc/Box/NBV. However, I know that the tech support folks are not likely to have much information.

Are there any developers here in the community that can speak to this issue?

Outcomes

21 Replies

wweichel Apr 26, 2018 4:09 PM
Late last year Oracle announced significant changes to its Java release and support models starting in September 2018 that could affect the availability of commonly used technology in 2019. Since this announcement, we have been reviewing the impact of these changes to our products and supported delivery models to prepare for the transition. Additionally, we’ve been having ongoing discussions with Oracle about the best ways to continue to serve our clients during and beyond this transition. These conversations and review processes are still underway, so we don’t yet have specific responses about what this means across Blackboard’s products portfolio. Once these open questions are answered, we will communicate our go-forward plan on the Community site and on Behind the Blackboard.
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PLangley Jul 18, 2018 8:37 AM
I logged a call with Blackboard support and they did not mention if they would cover the cost of managed hosting or SaaS. However doing a quick calculation, our 6 app servers, we're looking at $60,000! Am I doing the maths right?
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- feeney.linda @ PLangley on Jul 18, 2018 12:14 PM
  That is a very good question. I do not know. I brought this up here and at the Tuesday online admin meetings seeking clarification. I know that our account rep has no information. I also logged a call on Behind the Blackboard and did not receive any concrete information.
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rs0048203 Jul 25, 2018 2:06 PM
Submitted Bb Ticket and Bb Support says:
This topic was brought up a the latest BBWorld (it was discussed by other Bb Admins) and we have been told that this community thread will have news in the near future.
We have directed all out Self Hosted Clients to follow that thread for news.
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rs0048203 Aug 16, 2018 4:31 PM
The above Bb Ticket in Tier II Support for over two weeks.
Bb Support says:
I still have not received any feedback regarding the changes to Oracle licensing for Java. I have made the correct group aware here and will update as soon as I have additional information.
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fage Sep 12, 2018 8:13 PM
Hi, is there any news on this?
Thanks,
Alice
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rs0048203 Sep 14, 2018 9:20 AM
I am discouraged that Bb has not posted anything here regarding this yet.
I will ask next week at Q4 2018 Technical Preview.
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wweichel Oct 4, 2018 11:58 AM
A status update on this as of October 4, 2018...

As background, Oracle is changing its versioning, release, and support structure for Java. These changes impact a number of Blackboard solutions including Blackboard Learn. We are working with Oracle to analyze the impacts to our products and determine the path forward. One of our intended goals during this process is to ensure that all clients are able to use a supported version of Java--this includes Learn self-hosted clients who presently use Java installers on their Learn application servers. This evaluation with Oracle is ongoing so we can't yet confirm, but we expect to be able to communicate the outcome of these discussions in the Q4 2018 timeframe—that is, before the end of the year.
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- nk27479 @ wweichel on Nov 19, 2018 12:28 AM
  Hi Wade.
  Has there been any further update to the discussion with Oracle?
  Cheers
  Nick
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- jr0046591 @ wweichel on Dec 6, 2018 9:18 AM
  Hi Wade,
  
  Please, do you have some good news around this topic? Had BB Support added new updates around this?
  
  Thank you for your help!
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wweichel Dec 13, 2018 12:20 PM
Status update for December 12. Thank you everyone for your patience on this as we navigated complex analysis and licensing negotiation.

Background:
Starting in February 2019, changes to Oracle’s Java support practices will prevent access to critical security fixes on all but the most recent version of Oracle Java without an extended support contract. While this strategy aligns with the global trend toward cloud-based applications, it introduces change for products such as Blackboard Learn that has the option of shipped software installed and maintained by end users.

Update:
Through a combination of direct licensing from Oracle and the use of OpenJDK, Blackboard will provide Java updates for supported versions of Learn.

For Learn SaaS and Managed Hosting clients, Blackboard will manage any needed JVM changes through the course of normal operations, Learn upgrades, and maintenance.

For self-hosted clients, Blackboard will make available for system administrators updated versions of Java with critical security fixes. This will be handled under existing Learn licensing; clients will not need to enter into their own support agreements with Oracle. Java updaters will be made available after we’ve performed validation testing with supported versions of Blackboard Learn. This is similar to the support process for prior versions of Learn that had extended support for Java 7.

Until February 2019, self-hosted system administrators can continue to get JDK updates from Oracle. Updates released by Oracle after February 2019 will be posted on Behind the Blackboard after validation testing on supported configurations is completed. Under the terms of the agreement, clients cannot use these Java installers for any institutional purpose other than Blackboard Learn environments nor can the installers be redistributed.
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- lowey.kevin @ wweichel on Dec 13, 2018 9:56 AM
  Just to be clear, the java installers are being provided independent of cumulative updates correct? We don't have to install the latest cumulative update to get the latest Java updates installed?
  
  Also, the flipside of that. When a new cumulative update is released, will it include the most recent supported version of Java that is available at the time it was released?
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  - wweichel @ lowey.kevin on Dec 13, 2018 12:19 PM
    The Java installers will be provided as standalone Oracle Java installers. It won't be necessary to install the latest CU in order to use the updated Java installer. We don't include Java in Learn installers--we just test and support particular versions of Java for specific versions of Learn. Java installers are always acquired from a separate source than the Learn installer and ran separately. Starting in February 2019, rather than going to the Oracle website to get the updated security releases for a particular version of Java (Java 8 currently), you'll get them on Behind the Blackboard.
    
    I'll note, though, that there may be Learn version requirements for specific Oracle Java versions. The currently-supported releases are all Java 8. As we get into upcoming Learn releases, we'll be adopting higher versions of Java. So you'd need to just make certain you're taking the security updates for the version of Java supported for your version of Learn.
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- scott.davies @ wweichel on Dec 13, 2018 8:16 PM
  Hi Wade,
  Is this going to be announced through BtBb as a support bulletin too?
  Thanks,
  Scott
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jb35668 Dec 13, 2018 12:29 PM
Might this have any impact on the availability/usability of Collaborate original?
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- rs0048203 @ jb35668 on Jan 11, 2019 12:22 PM
  From Bb Support Ticket: https://help.blackboard.com/Learn/Administrator/SaaS/Tools_Management/Blackboard_Collaborate/Collaborate_Original
  Blackboard Collaborate launcher
  The Blackboard Collaborate Launcher is a utility for Windows and Mac that provides a convenient and reliable way for you to launch your Blackboard Collaborate web conferencing sessions and recordings. The launcher uses a .collab file to launch Blackboard Collaborate using a known and stable version of Java. Because the launcher includes the required Java, you no longer need to install and maintain the system version of Java.
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  - jb35668 @ rs0048203 on Jan 11, 2019 1:34 PM
    So, is this reply basically saying that the Oracle thing discussed higher in this thread has no impact on Collaborate Original?
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    - wweichel @ jb35668 on Feb 11, 2019 5:12 PM
      Hi all,
      
      Apologies for missing the thread about Collaborate Original. Yes, the above responses are correct. The changes discussed here for Learn don't impact Collaborate Original. The launcher ships with a specific Java runtime and there is no need for administrators to manage Java versions on the server-side for the application.
      
      As before, we will continue to monitor bulletins related to the necessary Java runtime for end-users accessing Collaborate Original sessions. If there were a security bulletin issued, we would triage, mitigate, and remediate the issue through our normal processes. Sometimes that means configuration or infrastructure changes that can be implemented for mitigation without changes to end-user technologies. Other times software updates are required. If the remediation plan requires a software change to the launcher, an update would be issued along with a support bulletin.
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rs0048203 Jan 11, 2019 3:08 PM
That is my understanding, but would be better for someone from Bb to reply to confirm.
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- jb35668 @ rs0048203 on Jan 11, 2019 3:25 PM
  Oh, I thought you were a BB person replying to this. Hopefully we can get an official reply from BB soon.
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wweichel Feb 11, 2019 4:59 PM
Related to this discussion about Java in Blackboard Learn, here's an additional posting with details about a new Learn SaaS Technical Preview program, specifically for doing Building Block testing when there are changes to Java versions.

Changes to Java JDK and impact to Building Blocks in Learn SaaS
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Blackboard and Changes to Oracle Licensing for Java

Outcomes

Blackboard Collaborate launcher

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