just getting started out with:
jboss 4.0.2
spring 1.2
hibernate 3.0.5
sql server 7.0 (legacy!)

I just finished reading Chapter 2, Hibernte In Action. Since I am running my web app under JBoss, they that it is "necessary" to set the factory class for the Hibernate Transaction API to JTA (rather than defaulting to JDBC) --- they go on to explain that if a JTA manager is present, JDBC connections are enlisted with the manager and under its full control.

This seems a bit odd that I would be forced to use JTA rather than the JDBC transaction strategy, considering that I will not have any distributed transactions in my app. Is it absolutely true that I have to use Hiberante JTATransactionFactory since I'm using JBoss, or just highly recommended ?

If it is true, not knowing much about JTA or distributed transactions, does this mean I have to use an xa-aware data source ?

On a somewhat related note, if I run Hibernate as a JMX service in JBoss so that SessionFactory is available via JNDI, does anyone know if Spring can be configured to use a Hibernate SessionFactory that is bound to JNDI ---- because if Spring instantiates its own Configuration and SessionFactory, then there are two SessionFactory objects, one created by JMX and one created by Spring --- surely this is not what is wanted ??

Thanks.

If the guys who wrote Hibernate tell you something is needed it usually is.

Thanks Christian.

I certainly agree with you. I was just looking for some clarification, since outside of Hibernate, JTA is generally relegated to apps that have distributed transaction needs.

Also, there is some confusion, even among Hibernate's own, whether JTATransactionManager is necessary. See the page about integrating Hibernate3 with JBoss at:
http://www.hibernate.org/282.html

If you could shed some light on the line that says
"use JTATransactionFactory (we have this, but not sure if it is required)"
I would be eternally grateful.

Read the reference documentation.

Thanks Christian.

I reread the reference and can give you a clearer picture of why I am asking.

Both the reference and Hibernate In Action are unclear. They indicate that JTATransactionFactory should be used if you are running in a managed environement, where they define a managed environment as one that pools resources such as db connections and allows transaction boundaries to be specified declaritively.
- I am (JBoss)

They also indicate that JTATransactionFactory is for using JTA/CMT.
- I am not (no distributed transactions or CMT)

Hence my confusion.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Charlie

What is unclear about this:

http://www.hibernate.org/hib_docs/v3/re ... onstrategy

Here is a tip: There is only BMT and CMT, nothing else. You try to find a third thing which doesn't exist. No, JTA has nothing to do with distributed transactions, though a JTA system might allow you to do distributed transactions. Maybe you should read up on some J2EE basics.