Whats the scoop on deployment descriptors

[Bill Hause]

Some of my reading indicates that the 'ejb-jar.xml' file is the deployment descriptor and other reading says its the "MyBeanDD.ser" file. Whats the scoop and how do I create a deployment descriptor?
Thanks,
Billy

[Nitin Shivaram]

Hi,
Both of it is right.
.ser file is a deployment descriptor files for EJB's which complies with the EJB 1.1 specification and .xml files are those which comply with the EJB 1.2 specification and above.
Apparently the reason for changing from a serialized format of storing deployment descriptors to a xml format was for better readability and modifiability.
cheerio
Nitin

[Nitin Shivaram]

hi,
to answer your other question, well it depends on the EJB server you are using, please consult the server manual.
Nitin

[Mary Cole]

well theres a correction to the answer given above.
The .ser file is for EJB1.0 and XML is for EJB1.1 spec
Hope this helps

[Johnson I]

Hey Bill
What you have read is right "ejb-jar.xml" is the deployment decriptor. The xml descriptors were introduced with ejb 1.1 specification. "*.ser" was used with ejb 1.0 specs..
You don't have to worry about creating/writing the xml descriptor ,bcas the deploytool automatically creates. If you are creating the jar file on you own through " java cf ....." then you have to write the xml descriptor and other required xml files ...This will be a cold deployment..Hope you know that..
Cheers..Johnson