ehcache is warning that you have not configured it. It might clarify things to configure the cache and re-run. See
http://ehcache.sourceforge.net/document ... figuration for an example ehcache.xml configuration file. Edit this to your liking and place it in the classpath. A copy is also included in the distribution.
ehcache will use it, when it finds it, rather than the fail safe. The fail safe is only useful for application outside Hibernate, where it provides enough information for startup and then you fully specify your caches and add them to CacheManager.
The only constraint ehcache imposes on cache keys and values is that they are Serializable.
If you still have problems beyond that post the source code snippet involved.