Scaling J2EETM application servers with the Multi-tasking Virtual Machine

The Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition (J2EE) is established as the standard platform for hosting enterprise applications written in the Java programming language. Similar to an operating system, a J2EE server can host multiple applications, but this is rarely seen in practice due to limitations on scalability, weak inter-application isolation and inadequate resource management facilities in the underlying Java platform. This leads to a proliferation of server instances, each typically hosting a single application, with a consequent dramatic increase in the total memory footprint and more complex system administration. The Multi-tasking Virtual Machine (MVM) solves this problem by providing an efficient and scalable implementation of the isolate API for multiple, isolated tasks, enabling the co-location of multiple server instances in a single MVM process. Isolates also enable the restructuring of a J2EE server implementation as a collection of isolated components, offering increased flexibility and reliability. The resulting system is a step towards a complete and scalable operating environment for enterprise applications. email addresses: [email protected] laurent.daynè[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] © 2004 Sun Microsystems, Inc. All rights reserved. The SML Technical Report Series is published by Sun Microsystems Laboratories, of Sun Microsystems, Inc. Printed in U.S.A. Unlimited copying without fee is permitted provided that the copies are not made nor distributed for direct commercial advantage, and credit to the source is given. Otherwise, no part of this work covered by copyright hereon may be reproduced in any form or by any means graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or storage in an information retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner. TRADEMARKS Sun, Sun Microsystems, the Sun logo, Java, Java Naming and Directory Interface, JavaMail, JavaBeans, JavaBeans Activation Framework,Enterprise JavaBeans, JDK, JVM, J2EE, J2ME, J2SE, Java HotSpot, and Solaris are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. All SPARC trademarks are used under license and are trademarks or registered trademarks of SPARC International, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. Products bearing SPARC trademarks are based upon an architecture developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc. UNIX is a registered trademark in the United States and other countries, exclusively licensed through X/Open Company, Ltd. For information regarding the SML Technical Report Series, contact Jeanie Treichel, Editor-in-Chief .All technical reports are available online on our website, http://research.sun.com/techrep/.