Java Web Start simplifies deployment of applications, but Sun's Plug-in makes the task even easier. See how the Java Plug-in from Sun enables browsers to fetch a Java Virtual Machine (JVM).

Applications launched through Web Start will find that many methods that worked fine directly atop the Java virtual machine will fail with SecurityExceptions inside the Web Start imposed sandbox.

This post explains how to install Java or check which version is running on your machine. Install on any OS, and learn about the JDK.