Installing Java for Debian 6 Squeeze

vim /etc/apt/sources.list
# for sun-java packages in unstable
deb http://ftp.debian.org/debian/ unstable non-free
deb-src http://ftp.debian.org/debian/ unstable non-free

apt-get update
apt-get install sun-java6-jdk
vim /etc/profile
JAVA_HOME=/usr/lib/jvm/java-6-sun
export JAVA_HOME

The Sun installer will present a license in a curses form. Depending on your terminal emulator, arrow keys may not work for navigation. If not, try ^f and ^b to navigate to the <ok>, and enter to select. Then you'll be asked to accept (or not) the license -- again use ^f or ^b to move to <yes> and hit enter.

or:

• ​Download the JDK & install it:

  cd /usr/local
  sh ~/jdk-6u21-linux-i586.bin
  ln -sf /usr/local/jdk1.6.0_21 /usr/local/java
  vim /etc/profile
  JAVA_HOME=/usr/local/java
  export JAVA_HOME