Introducing the Application Client Container

The Application Client Container (ACC) includes a set of Java classes, libraries, and other files that are required for and distributed with Java client programs that execute in their own Java Virtual Machine (JVM). The ACC manages the execution of Java EE application client components (application clients), which are used to access a variety of Java EE services (such as JMS resources, EJB components, web services, security, and so on.) from a JVM outside the Sun Java System Application Server.

The ACC communicates with the Application Server using RMI-IIOP protocol and manages the details of RMI-IIOP communication using the client ORB that is bundled with it. Compared to other Java EE containers, the ACC is lightweight.

ACC Security

The ACC is responsible for collecting authentication data such as the username and password and sending the collected data to the Application Server. The Application Server then processes the authentication data.

Authentication techniques are provided by the client container, and are not under the control of the application client component. The container integrates with the platform’s authentication system. When you execute a client application, it displays a login window and collects authentication data from the user. It also supports SSL (Secure Socket Layer)/IIOP if configured and when necessary; see Using RMI/IIOP Over SSL.

Application clients can use Programmatic Login.

For more information about security for application clients, see the Java EE 5 Specification, Section EE.9.7, “Java EE Application Client XML Schema.”

ACC Naming

The client container enables the application clients to use the Java Naming and Directory Interface (JNDI) to look up Java EE services (such as JMS resources, EJB components, web services, security, and so on.) and to reference configurable parameters set at the time of deployment.

ACC Annotation

Annotation is supported for application clients. For more information, see section 9.4 of the Java EE 5 Specification and Java EE Standard Annotation in Sun Java System Application Server Platform Edition 9 Application Deployment Guide.

Java Web Start

Java Web Start allows your application client to be easily launched and automatically downloaded and updated. It is enabled for all application clients by default. For more information, see Using Java Web Start.