Benefits Of The Java Dynamic Management Kit

Benefits of the Java Dynamic Management Kit include:

• Dynamic extensibility and scalability

• Easy management of Java applications

• Easy development of smart agents

• Protocol independence

Dynamic Extensibility And Scalability

The Java Dynamic Management Kit simplifies the development of extensible agents. An agent is able to instantiate Java classes loaded from an arbitrary location. Therefore, it is possible to extend the functionality of a running agent by making new classes available at an arbitrary location and requesting that the agent load and instantiate them.

Agents developed using the Java Dynamic Management Kit are also scalable. MBeans can be registered and unregistered with the MBean server in an agent while it is running. By registering and un-registering new MBeans, the agent can use only what it needs when it needs it. This feature enables the size and complexity of an agent to be modified while the agent is running, without having to stop the agent.

Easy Management Of Java Applications

The MBean server enables easy management of Java applications. For a Java application to be manageable, it only needs to be modified so that it:

• Instantiates the MBean server and a connector

• Registers the objects that, in conjunction with their states, accurately represent the application

The only restriction is that the registered objects have to be instances of an MBean. This is not a serious restriction, as it does not force the existing design to be changed, nor does it require a fixed class inheritance scheme. When you design an MBean, you do not need to explicitly take into account the interaction of the MBean with the MBean server or the adaptors. This is handled for you by the design patterns for MBeans. An application that includes the MBean server and a connector provides remote access for management operations without the need for any further development.

Easy Development Of Smart Agents

Agents developed using the Java Dynamic Management Kit are smart agents. A smart agent provides the services needed to process management requests. In a smart agent, much of the processing can be done locally in the agent itself, reducing the load on the network connection between the agent and the manager. This also enables an agent to continue to work if the connection between it and its manager is lost.

Protocol Independence

The design patterns for MBeans do not depend in any way on the protocol an agent uses for communicating with external applications. This is because the connectors interact with MBeans through the MBean server. New connectors (with new protocols) can be developed and used without rewriting existing MBeans or external applications. All that is required is that the new connector is able to interact with the MBean server.