Java Remote Method Invocation (RMI)

JVM 1 JVM 2 execution scheme distribution scheme thread 1 thread 2 Java Remote Method Invocation (RMI) In Java we implement object systems: O1 O2 O3

Programs/objects running on different virtual machines: • separately compiled/linked • allocated in different address spaces •  object by value message passing • Approach: (very natural in object technology) • definition of behavior interface • implementation of behavior class

The concept client object client object STUB SKELETON server object server object

RMI architecture layers client server stubs & skeletons stubs & skeletons RMI system remote reference layer remote reference layer transport layer

Stubs: • plays the role of PROXY • Skeletons: • helper class: generated automatically • (Java 2: new protocol + reflection classes •  no skeleton class)

Remote Reference Layer (RRL) RRL defines the invocation semantics Connections: unicast, point-to-point (currently) Stages: server instantiates service exporting to RMI optional: naming and registering (Java 2: activable remote object (i.e. “on-demand instantiation”)

network cable Transport layer JRE JRE JRE JRE Host OS Host OS Network layer Network layer On TCP/IP: Java Remote Method Protocol (JRMP) Other proprietary protocols are also in use!! (Java 2 v1.3: RMI-IIOP (straight link to CORBA))

Naming The big question: How can a client find a particular service? RMI registry lookup register client server stubs & skeletons stubs & skeletons RMI

RMI can use various directory services. • RMI includes: rmiregistry service: • - the registry service runs on each machine, which • hosts remote objects and accepts requests for • services • - default TCP/IP port: 1099 • Client: the RMI registry service provides lookup method • specification of required remote object service: URL • rmi://<host_name> • [:<name_service_port>] • /<service_name>

Using RMI Components of an RMI based application: interface definitions for remote services implementations of remote services stub and skeleton files server(s) to host the services RMI naming service client program optional: class file provider Example: remote calculator service and client program

Step 1: write and compile service interfaces import java.rmi.Remote; import java.rmi.RemoteException; public interface Calculator extends Remote { public long add(long a, long b) throws RemoteException; public long sub(long a, long b) throws RemoteException; public long mul(long a, long b) throws RemoteException; public long div(long a, long b) throws RemoteException; }

Step 2: write and compile service implementation import java.rmi.server.UnicastRemoteObject; import java.rmi.RemoteException; public class CalculatorImplextends UnicastRemoteObject implements Calculator { // Implementations must have an explicit constructor // in order to declare the RemoteException exception public CalculatorImpl() throws RemoteException { super(); } public long add(long a, long b) throws RemoteException { return a + b; } public long sub(long a, long b) throws RemoteException { return a - b; } public long mul(long a, long b) throws RemoteException { return a * b; } public long div(long a, long b) throws RemoteException { return a / b; } }

Step 3: generate stub and skeleton classes RMI compiler: part of JDK rmic CalculatorImpl Result: CalculatorImpl_Stub.class CalculatorImpl_Skel.class

Step 4: write remote service class import java.rmi.Naming; public class CalculatorServer { public CalculatorServer() { try { Calculator c = new CalculatorImpl(); Naming.rebind("rmi://localhost:1099/CalculatorService", c); } catch (Exception e) { System.out.println("Trouble: " + e); } } public static void main(String args[]) { new CalculatorServer(); } }

Step 5: write client program import java.rmi.Naming; import java.rmi.RemoteException; import java.net.MalformedURLException; import java.rmi.NotBoundException; public class CalculatorClient { public static void main(String[] args) { try { Calculator c = (Calculator) Naming.lookup("rmi://localhost/CalculatorService"); System.out.println( c.sub(4, 3) ); System.out.println( c.add(4, 5) ); System.out.println( c.mul(3, 6) ); System.out.println( c.div(9, 3) ); } catch (MalformedURLException murle) { <.. some code here ..> } catch (RemoteException re) { <.. some code here ..> } catch (NotBoundException nbe) { <.. some code here ..> } catch (java.lang.ArithmeticException ae){ <.. some code here ..> } } }

Remarks on parameter passing in RMI Parameters in a single JVM: primitive types: by value object types: “object reference by value” Parameters in RMI: primitive types: by value object types: (of course) by value  object serialization local reference to a remote object: reference to the proxy

Java Remote Method Invocation (RMI)