2.1.2 Dynamic MBeans

Dynamic MBeans do not have getter and setter methods for each attribute and operation. Instead, dynamic MBeans have generic methods for getting or setting an attribute by name, and for invoking operations by name. These methods are common to all dynamic MBeans and are defined by the DynamicMBean interface.

The management interface is determined by the set of attribute and operation names to which these methods respond. The getMBeanInfo method of the DynamicMBean interface must also return a data structure that describes the management interface. This metadata contains the attribute and operation names, their types, and the notifications that can be sent if the MBean is a broadcaster.

Dynamic MBeans provide a simple way to wrap existing Java objects that do not follow the design patterns for standard MBeans. You can also implement dynamic MBeans to access resources that are not based on Java technology by using the Java Native Interface (JNI).

The management interface of a dynamic MBean is static, but this interface is exposed dynamically when the MBean server calls its getMBeanInfo method. The implementation of a dynamic MBean can be complex, for example, if the MBean determines its own management interface based on existing conditions when it is instantiated.