FULL PRODUCT VERSION : java version "1.7.0_45" Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.7.0_45-b18) Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 24.45-b08, mixed mode, sharing) ADDITIONAL OS VERSION INFORMATION : Linux puppypc23185 3.9.11 #1 SMP Sat Jul 27 19:40:54 GMT-8 2013 i686 i686 i386 GNU/Linux EXTRA RELEVANT SYSTEM CONFIGURATION : Installed using Linux RPM A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM : The jcontrol/ControlPanel shell script should use the pwd -P flag to better handle symbolic links. The dereference() comment says " Note: This function is not capable of detecting that one or more directories in the path is also a link and unravelling that."; pwd -P can handle detect and expand multiple symlinked directories. % diff jcontrol.orig jcontrol 62c62 < parent="`cd \`dirname \"${path}\"\`; pwd`" --- > parent="`cd \`dirname \"${path}\"\`; pwd -P`" 113c113 < result="`cd \`dirname \"$*\"\`; pwd`" --- > result="`cd \`dirname \"$*\"\`; pwd -P`" 117c117 < result="`cd \`dirname \"$*\"\`/../jre/bin; pwd`" --- > result="`cd \`dirname \"$*\"\`/../jre/bin; pwd -P`" STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM : 1. Download Java for Linux RPM (http://java.com/en/download/manual.jsp ) 2. Install (http://java.com/en/download/help/linux_install.xml#rpm ) 3. Add convenience symbolic links: % cd /usr/java % ln -s jre1.7.0_45 latest % cd /usr/bin % ln -s ../java/latest/bin/* . 4. Run jcontrol % jcontrol EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR : EXPECTED - The Java ControlPanel launches. ACTUAL - The error message "ControlPanel: Error: Invalid link or copy: " is printed and the script exits. ERROR MESSAGES/STACK TRACES THAT OCCUR : ControlPanel: Error: Invalid link or copy: REPRODUCIBILITY : This bug can be reproduced occasionally. ---------- BEGIN SOURCE ---------- The jcontrol script is its own source code. ---------- END SOURCE ---------- CUSTOMER SUBMITTED WORKAROUND : cd /usr/java/latest/bin cp jcontrol jcontrol.orig sed -e "s/pwd/pwd -P/" jcontrol.orig > jcontrol