Apparently on some versions of Java checking the Java version will give you the following error.
root@local:~# java -v Unrecognized option: -v Error: Could not create the Java Virtual Machine. Error: A fatal exception has occurred. Program will exit. root@local:~#
The issue being the -v or –version options are not recognized. On newer versions of Java it is recognized.
The proper way to do it is -version with only one dash
root@local:~# java -version
openjdk version "1.8.0_252"
OpenJDK Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_252-8u252-b09-1ubuntu1-b09)
OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.252-b09, mixed mode)
root@local:~#