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.