class loader to include jars in external folder

[javatwo]

Hello, we have a war application with lib folder

WEB-INF/lib/core.jar

The war application allow users to add external jars without repackaging the war file, For example

<INSTALL-DIR>/external/a.jar

<INSTALL-DIR>/external/b.jar

users can add jars(a.jar,b.jar),and then restart JBOSS. If we add a.jar/b.jar to server/default/lib,  we got classNotFound error

because external jars (a.jar, b.jar) have references to classes in the war.  If it does not need to restart JBoss, it is a plus.

Can I configure JBoss ClassLoader to load the external jars as if they were under WEB-INF/lib of war file? If we need to

implement our own class loader, could any one help me get started to achieve this goal?

Thanks,

Dave

[javatwo]

We use JBoss 5.1.0.

[saltnlight5]

A standar war WEB-INF/lib/*.jar are not accessable outside of that WAR application.

The WAR webapp can access class in your their own WEB-INF/lib/*.jar obviously, and if it not found there, it then looks for those in JBOSS_HOME/server/<profile-server>/lib, then JBOSS_HOME/common/lib (if you use default), and then JBOSS_HOME/lib. But applications outside of the webapp in JBoss can't access the war's WEB-INF/lib/*.jar.

A webapp WAR's WEB-INF/lib/*.jar are automatically reloaded whenever you redeploy your war file. All other server lib directories requires you to restart JBoss to pickup new jars.

Search JBoss classloader in wiki and google to see more info.