Initial Context property values for EJB lookup

Question

I am learning basics of EJB 3.0. I have managed to get a sample code up and running. Now I am doing a line by line analysis to have in-depth knowledge. But I am stuck at few lines where there is a lookup to find the required bean.

Can anyone please explain me in simple language the meaning and the need of the following lines?

Properties properties = new Properties();
properties.put("java.naming.factory.initial", "org.jnp.interfaces.NamingContextFactory");
properties.put("java.naming.factory.url.pkgs", "org.jboss.naming rg.jnp.interfaces");
properties.setProperty(Context.PROVIDER_URL, "localhost:1099");

IniialContext context = null;
SamleEjbRemote cl = null;
try {
    context = new InitialContext(properties);
    cl = (SampleEjbRemote) context.lookup("SampleEjbBean/remote");
} catch (NamingException e1) {
    // TODO Auto-generated catch block
    e1.printStackTrace();
}

What is the exact meaning of each of the 'key' and 'value' that is used in properties?

Rest of it is to put the 'properties' in the initial context instance. I have had a very vague idea of the above, but I want to clarify it very clearly. I would be glad if anyone could point me to any links or insights about the above lines.

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Both properties configures JBoss JNDI HTTP InitialContext Factory Implementation

Official document here : http://docs.jboss.org/jbossas/jboss4guide/r1/html/ch3.chapter.html

See chapter 3.2.1.2. The HTTP InitialContext Factory Implementation

java.naming.factory.initial: The name of the environment property for specifying the initial context factory, which must be org.jboss.naming.HttpNamingContextFactory.

java.naming.factory.url.pkgs: For all JBoss JNDI provider this must be org.jboss.naming:org.jnp.interfaces. This property is essential for locating the jnp: and java: URL context factories of the JBoss JNDI provider.

UPDATE:

I would recommend to use jndi.properties file in your class path

### JBossNS properties
java.naming.factory.initial=org.jnp.interfaces.NamingContextFactory
java.naming.provider.url=jnp://localhost:1099
java.naming.factory.url.pkgs=org.jboss.naming:org.jnp.interfaces