Java SDK error using JRE 6.x "fatal alert: handshake_failure"

Issue

Using Split Java SDK and JDK 1.6 (JRE 6.x), the following connection error to split.io is thrown:

.RECV TLSv1 ALERT: fatal, handshake_failure

  handling exception: javax.net.ssl.SSLHandshakeException: Received fatal alert:
  handshake_failure

Root Cause

Java 1.6 does support TLSv1 however, it does not support high strength Ciphers which are required by split.io security protocol.

Answer

There are two solutions to this issue:

1. Upgrade your JDK to 1.7 or above (Java 7 or above). The newer versions will be packaged by default with the stronger ciphers needed.
2. Install the JCE (Java Cryptography Extension) from the JVM vendor for Java 6, which will provide the support for high strength ciphers.