Can you get a java.sql.Connection for use with native jdbc? So I don't have to set up a separeate outside hibernate?

mySession.connection().<do stuff>

Ok, how would you clean up after this, will mySession.close() clean up that connection? Notice in the api you have to commit the connection as well? or would committing the session after using the connection commit the connection?

If the Session got the connection from a JDBC pool, it will return it on close(), otherwise you can re-use the Connection you passed in with SessionFactory.openSession(myConnection).

Don't manually commit() the the Connection. It is possible, but much more convenient to use the Hibernate Transaction API:

Session session = sf.openSession(); // Get it from JDBC pool
Transaction tx = session.beginTransaction();

// do some work here

tx.commit();
session.close();

Throw in some Exception handling and you are fine.

Ok, so to use some hand coded sql though, it woudl be something like this:

Session session = sf.openSession(); // Get it from JDBC pool
Connection conn = session.connection();
Transaction tx = session.beginTransaction();

// do some work here with the conn object

tx.commit();
session.close();

That would be the right way to use that Connection?

Well, I'd get the connection() after I've started the Transaction, but I guess it doesn't matter.

great, thanks!