Externalized classloader information for application servers

摘要

A process and system for externalizing classloader information to non-application modules such as tool modules that do not reside within the same Application server virtual machine such as a J2EE AppServer JVM. Tools that read and display classloader information typically need to co-reside within the AppServer because of the virtual machine security mechanisms that prevent classes outside the virtual machine itself to introspect the classloaders. This presents a problem for tooling vendors because most server owners do not want anything other than their applications running within the AppServer virtual machine. The invention allows tooling vendors to create a classloader tool that is external to the AppServer virtual machine, and which is running in a completely separate virtual machine, thus having minimal overhead on production systems, but which allows classloading through standard or open (e.g. non-proprietary) interfaces.