Cannot load JDBC driver class in WebApp-specific lib

[McEahern, Mark S]

I have a JNDI resource defined in my application's context.xml like so:

  <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
  <Context reloadable="true" debug="true" allowLinking="true">
    <Resource
      name="jdbc/v5/myjndi"
      type="javax.sql.DataSource"
      driverClassName="oracle.jdbc.driver.OracleDriver"
      password="password"
      maxIdle="2"
      maxWait="5000"
      validationQuery="Select &apos;Hello&apos; from Dual"
      username="username"
      url="jdbc:oracle:thin:@host:port:instance"
      maxActive="4"/>
  </Context>

When I try to put the ojdbc14.jar in the /WEB-INF/lib/*.jar of my web
application, it results in the following error:

Could not get JDBC Connection; nested exception is
org.apache.tomcat.dbcp.dbcp.SQLNestedException: Cannot load JDBC driver
class 'oracle.jdbc.driver.OracleDriver'

However, if I merely move ojdbc14.jar to the common lib folder, it
works:

  C:\Program Files\Apache Software Foundation\Tomcat 6.0\lib

I'd like to package the ojdbc14.jar inside of my application--not so
much because I expect it to be different across applications, but so as
to minimize Tomcat setup necessary to run my applications.  As much as
possible, I'd like my applications to be self-contained.

How do I get the class loader used for this JNDI resource to use my
application's /WEB-INF/lib folder's jars?

Thanks,



Mark McEahern
Lead Architect
Division of Public Health Informatics and Surveillance
Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene


---------------------------------------------------------------------
To start a new topic, e-mail: [hidden email]
To unsubscribe, e-mail: [hidden email]
For additional commands, e-mail: [hidden email]

[Juha Laiho]

McEahern, Mark S wrote:
> I have a JNDI resource defined in my application's context.xml like so:
>
>   <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
>   <Context reloadable="true" debug="true" allowLinking="true">
>     <Resource
>       name="jdbc/v5/myjndi"
>       type="javax.sql.DataSource"
>       driverClassName="oracle.jdbc.driver.OracleDriver"
...

>       maxActive="4"/>
>   </Context>
>
> When I try to put the ojdbc14.jar in the /WEB-INF/lib/*.jar of my web
> application, it results in the following error:
>
> Could not get JDBC Connection; nested exception is
> org.apache.tomcat.dbcp.dbcp.SQLNestedException: Cannot load JDBC driver
> class 'oracle.jdbc.driver.OracleDriver'

That happens because the resources are set up with the server classpath
(Common classloader), which does not include any of the webapp libraries.
See http://tomcat.apache.org/tomcat-6.0-doc/class-loader-howto.html
for classloader details.

It has to be this way, because the resources actually do not belong
into the webapp, but are part of the container.

> I'd like to package the ojdbc14.jar inside of my application--not so
> much because I expect it to be different across applications, but so as
> to minimize Tomcat setup necessary to run my applications.  As much as
> possible, I'd like my applications to be self-contained.
>
> How do I get the class loader used for this JNDI resource to use my
> application's /WEB-INF/lib folder's jars?

I don't think you can; you'll need to weigh the pros and cons of different
approaches here. You already have a feeling about the pros and cons of the
standard, JNDI-based, approach. The other way (in order to be able to
package the Oracle JARs within your application) would be to let go of
JNDI, and declare your database dependencies in a more direct way. Just
place the connection descriptor and account details into a properties file
within WEB-INF, and have a database interface class to pick them up from
there at application startup.
--
..Juha

---------------------------------------------------------------------
To start a new topic, e-mail: [hidden email]
To unsubscribe, e-mail: [hidden email]
For additional commands, e-mail: [hidden email]

[Martin Gainty]

remembering every lookup is a complete roundtrip which can be slow during peak periods
try to maintain as direct a path as possible to the DB with as few lookups as possible to ensure best performance

thanks,
Martin
______________________________________________
Disclaimer and confidentiality note
Everything in this e-mail and any attachments relates to the official business of Sender. This transmission is of a confidential nature and Sender does not endorse distribution to any party other than intended recipient. Sender does not necessarily endorse content contained within this transmission.

> Date: Mon, 6 Oct 2008 20:39:35 +0300
> From: [hidden email]
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: Cannot load JDBC driver class in WebApp-specific lib
>
> McEahern, Mark S wrote:
> > I have a JNDI resource defined in my application's context.xml like so:
> >
> >   <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
> >   <Context reloadable="true" debug="true" allowLinking="true">
> >     <Resource
> >       name="jdbc/v5/myjndi"
> >       type="javax.sql.DataSource"
> >       driverClassName="oracle.jdbc.driver.OracleDriver"
> ...
>
> >       maxActive="4"/>
> >   </Context>
> >
> > When I try to put the ojdbc14.jar in the /WEB-INF/lib/*.jar of my web
> > application, it results in the following error:
> >
> > Could not get JDBC Connection; nested exception is
> > org.apache.tomcat.dbcp.dbcp.SQLNestedException: Cannot load JDBC driver
> > class 'oracle.jdbc.driver.OracleDriver'
>
> That happens because the resources are set up with the server classpath
> (Common classloader), which does not include any of the webapp libraries.
> See http://tomcat.apache.org/tomcat-6.0-doc/class-loader-howto.html
> for classloader details.
>
> It has to be this way, because the resources actually do not belong
> into the webapp, but are part of the container.
>
> > I'd like to package the ojdbc14.jar inside of my application--not so
> > much because I expect it to be different across applications, but so as
> > to minimize Tomcat setup necessary to run my applications.  As much as
> > possible, I'd like my applications to be self-contained.
> >
> > How do I get the class loader used for this JNDI resource to use my
> > application's /WEB-INF/lib folder's jars?
>
> I don't think you can; you'll need to weigh the pros and cons of different
> approaches here. You already have a feeling about the pros and cons of the
> standard, JNDI-based, approach. The other way (in order to be able to
> package the Oracle JARs within your application) would be to let go of
> JNDI, and declare your database dependencies in a more direct way. Just
> place the connection descriptor and account details into a properties file
> within WEB-INF, and have a database interface class to pick them up from
> there at application startup.
> --
> ..Juha
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> To start a new topic, e-mail: [hidden email]
> To unsubscribe, e-mail: [hidden email]
> For additional commands, e-mail: [hidden email]
>

_________________________________________________________________
Want to do more with Windows Live? Learn “10 hidden secrets” from Jamie.
http://windowslive.com/connect/post/jamiethomson.spaces.live.com-Blog-cns!550F681DAD532637!5295.entry?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_domore_092008