How to get JavaCard version on card

Question

How to get java card version from card? Is there any way how to get version of JC from the card. Or should I try to install applets with specific for each JC version option

Answer 1

The only full-proof way to determine JavaCard API versions supported by a "white" smart card is to build a separate CAP file for each JavaCard version.

I suggest you make each CAP contain just a single simple class extending javacard.framework.Applet. You may want to be able to actually install your simple applet and actually exchange APDUs with it just to make sure it actually works; as far as I know Java Card virtual machine implementations are allowed to upload CAP files even if not all imports are resolved, but should fail if you try to actually use the APIs.

Once a CAP file is generated you can verify it actually links to the intended JavaCard API package by parsing the COMPONENT_Import component in your generated CAP file. The CAP file format is described in the JavaCard Virtual Machine Specification and the field you want is the package_info for your imported JavaCard package.

I've comprised a list of AID - package_version_major.package_version_minor (package_name) information. The list may be incomplete.

Java Card 2.1.1: A0000000620201 - 1.1 (javacardx.crypto)

Java Card 2.1.1: A0000000620101 - 1.0 (javacard.framework)

Java Card 2.1.1: A0000000620001 - 1.0 (java.lang)

Java Card 2.1.1: A0000000620102 - 1.1 (javacard.security)

Java Card 2.2.1: A0000000620201 - 1.2 (javacardx.crypto)

Java Card 2.2.1: A0000000620101 - 1.2 (javacard.framework)

Java Card 2.2.1: A0000000620002 - 1.0 (java.io)

Java Card 2.2.1: A0000000620001 - 1.0 (java.lang)

Java Card 2.2.1: A0000000620003 - 1.0 (java.rmi)

Java Card 2.2.1: A0000000620102 - 1.2 (javacard.security)

Java Card 2.2.1: A000000062010101 - 1.0 (javacard.framework.service)

Java Card 2.2.2: A0000000620209 - 1.0 (javacardx.apdu)

Java Card 2.2.2: A0000000620202 - 1.2 (javacardx.biometry)

Java Card 2.2.2: A0000000620201 - 1.3 (javacardx.crypto)

Java Card 2.2.2: A0000000620203 - 1.0 (javacardx.external)

Java Card 2.2.2: A0000000620101 - 1.3 (javacard.framework)

Java Card 2.2.2: A0000000620002 - 1.0 (java.io)

Java Card 2.2.2: A0000000620001 - 1.0 (java.lang)

Java Card 2.2.2: A000000062020802 - 1.0 (javacardx.framework.math)

Java Card 2.2.2: A0000000620003 - 1.0 (java.rmi)

Java Card 2.2.2: A0000000620102 - 1.3 (javacard.security)

Java Card 2.2.2: A000000062010101 - 1.0 (javacard.framework.service)

Java Card 2.2.2: A000000062020803 - 1.0 (javacardx.framework.tlv)

Java Card 2.2.2: A000000062020801 - 1.0 (javacardx.framework.util)

Java Card 3.0.1: A0000000620209 - 1.0 (javacardx.apdu)

Java Card 3.0.1: A0000000620202 - 1.2 (javacardx.biometry)

Java Card 3.0.1: A0000000620201 - 1.4 (javacardx.crypto)

Java Card 3.0.1: A0000000620203 - 1.0 (javacardx.external)

Java Card 3.0.1: A0000000620101 - 1.4 (javacard.framework)

Java Card 3.0.1: A00000006202080101 - 1.0 (javacardx.framework.util.intx)

Java Card 3.0.1: A0000000620002 - 1.0 (java.io)

Java Card 3.0.1: A0000000620001 - 1.0 (java.lang)

Java Card 3.0.1: A000000062020802 - 1.0 (javacardx.framework.math)

Java Card 3.0.1: A0000000620003 - 1.0 (java.rmi)

Java Card 3.0.1: A0000000620102 - 1.4 (javacard.security)

Java Card 3.0.1: A000000062010101 - 1.0 (javacard.framework.service)

Java Card 3.0.1: A000000062020803 - 1.0 (javacardx.framework.tlv)

Java Card 3.0.1: A000000062020801 - 1.0 (javacardx.framework.util)

Java Card 3.0.4: A0000000620209 - 1.0 (javacardx.apdu)

Java Card 3.0.4: A0000000620202 - 1.2 (javacardx.biometry)

Java Card 3.0.4: A0000000620201 - 1.4 (javacardx.crypto)

Java Card 3.0.4: A0000000620203 - 1.0 (javacardx.external)

Java Card 3.0.4: A0000000620101 - 1.5 (javacard.framework)

Java Card 3.0.4: A00000006202080101 - 1.0 (javacardx.framework.util.intx)

Java Card 3.0.4: A0000000620002 - 1.0 (java.io)

Java Card 3.0.4: A0000000620001 - 1.0 (java.lang)

Java Card 3.0.4: A000000062020802 - 1.0 (javacardx.framework.math)

Java Card 3.0.4: A0000000620003 - 1.0 (java.rmi)

Java Card 3.0.4: A0000000620102 - 1.5 (javacard.security)

Java Card 3.0.4: A000000062010101 - 1.0 (javacard.framework.service)

Java Card 3.0.4: A000000062020804 - 1.0 (javacardx.framework.string)

Java Card 3.0.4: A000000062020803 - 1.0 (javacardx.framework.tlv)

Java Card 3.0.4: A000000062020801 - 1.0 (javacardx.framework.util)

Considering above information allow me to point out that the answer from Michael Roland is slightly misleading. Calling JCSystem.getVersion() does not help to determine whether a Java Card version is supported; if you got to the point where you can actually call the API then you are already sure the version is supported.