You can use HQLDB, coming with Hibernate, which I have never tried.
And if you have MYSQL or any other relation DB.
Create a database connection by using type3 or type 4 driver with DB.
Check the connection is created properly.
Once it is done
create a
test table with 1 or 2 column.
crate a class with getter and setter methods for those columns.
crate a hibernate mapping in hbm.xml file(make sure the file is in your classpath.
create a client class, pass a value and see whether it is stored or not.
You don't need any container for this. POJO is enough.