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Statement on Microsoft Java Virtual Machine (MSJVM) Support

Overview

The Microsoft Java Virtual Machine (MSJVM) is a browser technology that allows users of Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser to launch Java applets. The technology has now been available for nearly ten years. Microsoft officially dropped its support for the MSJVM technology in December 2007.

This document discusses what the Microsoft Java Virtual Machine (MSJVM) software is, the potential problems learners may experience when using MSJVM with today's newer hardware, and makes suggestions as to how to correct these problems.

Some of today's more advanced personal computers utilize state of the art multi-core processors. These multi-core processors, sometimes referred to as "Dual-core" or "Quad-core" PCs, provide improved system performance in the most modern PCs today. The MSJVM has not been updated by Microsoft to support these multi-core processors causing issues which could adversely affect course playback in the SkillSoft Course Player..

Sun Microsystems continues to update and support the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) and supports the multi-core processors. This technology similar to the MSJVM in that it allows Internet Explorer to launch Java applets. As a result, the JRE does not experience the same issues with multi-core processors as the MSJVM.

How Does this Affect My Learners?

The SkillSoft Content Player (SCP) employs Java technology to deliver robust and advanced learning content to customers. Doing so requires the learner to have either JRE or MSJVM software installed. As personal computer hardware technology improves, and becomes more widely adopted, learners using the MSJVM may experience issues related to the newer hardware. More specifically, learners who are using a personal computer with multi-core processor technology may experience problems viewing graphics embedded in certain courses. These problems may result in learner dissatisfaction with the course.

It is important to understand that these problems are not unique to SkillSoft software and learners may experience similar problems with other applications that rely on the MSJVM.

What Can My Company Do?

Over time, SkillSoft has seen use of the MSJVM diminish. As an unsupported (by the vendor – Microsoft) older technology, this decrease in usage has accelerated in recent years. While SkillSoft continues to support the MSJVM with the SkillSoft Course Player, SkillSoft has no plan to address the specific issues resulting from the unsupported MSJVM running on newer hardware.

The latest Sun Microsystems Java Runtime Environment (JRE), version 6, provides support for multi-core processors. Upgrading systems to the latest JRE would be the best course of action. The upgrade would allow learners to take advantage of the rich graphics SkillSoft is embedding in courses.

We understand that other applications may exist on the learner's PCs that require the MSJVM. In those cases, you might consider one of the following options:

  • In certain situations, disabling the multi-core processor technology, and running on a single core, allows the PC to render the course graphics correctly, although this is PC-specific, and may not work in all situations. Please consult system documentation provided by your PC vendor for instructions on how to enable your multi-core processor to use only a single core.
  • Disabling animations within SkillSoft courses is another option. Contact your account team if you wish to explore this option.
  • Contact those software vendors whose applications require the MSJVM to see if they have a version of their application that supports the JRE.

Since both the MSJVM and JRE can co-exist on the same PC, it might be possible to have applications requiring MSJVM support to specifically call the MSJVM rather than the default Java environment. The SkillSoft Content Player calls the default Java environment that would be set to the JRE in this specific case.