No suitable driver with com.mysql.jdbc.Driver

Question

Ok. here's the issue. I have a windows box. (first problem) but let's pretend that it's ok. :) I installed Tomcat 4.1 installed J2SDK1.4.0
start serving pages GREAT!. I have Mysql working perfectly with PHP on this system. I JUST want to connect with JDBC :)
I've downloaded the MySQL Jdbc Connector/J 3.08 stable installed the .jar file in the $JAVA_HOME/jre/lib/ext as per the README
Now granted I am a little new to JSP. but I have checked over this again and again. used different code. connected as many ways as I can think of and I still get the same result.
Database Error :
No suitable driver
Please Try Some Other Time
So I figure it's a MYSQL issue. no I also went thru and did the Microsot connection to MS SQL 2000 with the same result.
Here's where the drivers are (tried using the other method for installing the MySQL connector as well, and my class path
Y:\j2sdk1.4.0\com\mysql\jdbc\Driver.class
com.mysql.jdbc.Driver.class
Y:\j2sdk1.4.0\org\gjt\mm\mysql\Driver.class
org.gjt.mm.mysql.Driver.class
My classpath is:
.;F:\j2sdk1.4.0\;F:\j2sdk1.4.0\bin\;F:\j2sdk1.4.0\lib\;F:\j2sdk1.4.0\lib\classes\
[ Here's The Enviorment]
Windows 2000 5.00.2195 SP3
MS SQL 2K SP3
Apache Tomcat/4.1.27
j2sdk1.4.0
MySql 3.23.57-nt
mysql Jdbc Connector/J 3.08 stable
<!-- mysql.jsp BEGIN-->
<%@ page import="java.sql.*" %>
<%
Connection conn;
ResultSet results;
try      {
     String jdbc_driver = "com.mysql.jdbc.Driver";
     System.out.println("jdbc_driver = " + jdbc_driver);
     Class.forName(jdbc_driver).newInstance();
     catch (ClassNotFoundException cnfe)
     System.out.println(cnfe.getMessage());
try      {
     String url = "jdbc:mysql://localhost:3306/javatest?username=root,password=****"; // pass hidden
     conn = DriverManager.getConnection(url);
     System.out.println("connected to mySql DataBase");
     Statement stmt = conn.createStatement();
     Statement smt=conn.createStatement();
     results=smt.executeQuery("select * from testdata");
          while(results.next())
               %>
               <%= results.getString("foo")%>
               <%= results.getString("bar")%>
               <%= results.getString("id")%>
               <%
          results.close();
          conn.close();
     catch(Exception exp)
     %>
          <H3>Database Error : </H3><B><%= exp.getMessage() %></B><H3>Please Try Some Other Time</H3>
     <%
%>
<!-- mysql.jsp end -->
BTW i aslo tried connecting to MicrosoftSQL 2K
<!-- microsoft.jsp Begin -->
<%@ page import="java.sql.*" %>
<%
Connection conn;
ResultSet results;
try      {
     String jdbc_driver = "sun.jdbc.odbc.JdbcObdcDriver";
     System.out.println("jdbc_driver = " + jdbc_driver);
     Class.forName(jdbc_driver).newInstance();
     catch (ClassNotFoundException cnfe)
     System.out.println(cnfe.getMessage());
try      {
     String url = "jdbc:odbc:contacts";
     String username = "javauser";
     String pw = "javauser";
     conn = DriverManager.getConnection(url, username, pw);
     System.out.println("connected to Msoft DataBase");
     Statement stmt = conn.createStatement();
     Statement smt=conn.createStatement();
     results=smt.executeQuery("select * from contacts");
          while(results.next())
               %>
               <%= results.getString("name")%><br>
               <%
          results.close();
          conn.close();
     catch(Exception exp)
     %>
          <H3>Database Error : </H3><B><%= exp.getMessage() %></B><H3>Please Try Some Other Time</H3>
     <%
%>
<!-- microsoft.jsp end -->
got the exact same results.
Just to show you mysql is Good. with localhost.
mysql -u root -h localhost -p
mysql> use javatest
Database changed
mysql> select * from testdata;
| id | foo | bar |
| 1 | hello | 12345 |
1 row in set (0.00 sec)
mysql>

Answer 1

Nope, it's not a MySQL issue.
I'd recommend NOT putting the JDBC JAR file (or any others, except Sun-sanctioned extensions) in JAVA_HOME/jre/lib/ext.
JDBC JARs belong in TOMCAT_HOME/common/lib or in the WEB-INF/lib directory for your particular app. If you put them in the former, all apps running under Tomcat can have access to them. If you put them in the latter, only your app can see them.
After you've done that, do some reading about JNDI data sources under Tomcat:
http://jakarta.apache.org/tomcat/tomcat-4.1-doc/jndi-datasource-examples-howto.html
That way you can get that connection code out of your JSPs and into the web.xml and <Context>, where it belongs. You'll be able to change data sources without rewriting your pages.
Good luck - MOD