RMI For IE4 FAQ
Q: What is RMI?
A: Remote Method Invocation (RMI) is a standard part of Java* that enables
applications and applets to communicate with each other over a network
in a way that is most natural to Java programmers. It's a part of Java
plumbing that is normally only of interest to programmers and is hidden
from end users.
Q: Do I need this patch?
A: Microsoft's support for Java is incomplete, and in particular, RMI is
one of the missing features. This package installs the missing RMI support
for Microsoft Java, thus enabling RMI for all Java applications which use
the Microsoft Java virtual machine. Internet Explorer* is one such
application.
Other Java implementations on the Windows platforms don't suffer from
this defect. Netscape, for example, comes with its own Java support, including
RMI.
If you develop or expect to use an application on the Microsoft Java
Virtual Machine, you may well need this patch. If you use Internet Explorer*,
you will need this patch unless you are sure you'll never download an applet
that expects to use RMI.
If you are developing a Java application or applet for the Microsoft
JVM, this patch gives you the option of using RMI instead of a proprietary
alternative such as DCOM. RMI offers you the possibility of the "write
once, run anywhere" promise of Java.
Q: What if I install this patch and don't need it?
A: This patch is harmless; it is invisible to applications which don't
use RMI, and runtime performance is unaffected.
Trademarks and Service Marks
* Company, product or service may be a trademark or service
mark of others. Java and all Java-based trademarks and logos
are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems,
Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. Windows and Windows NT
are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.