Exception while getting the server instance. Stateless bean problem

Question

Hi,
New to OC4J, I'm moving an ear that was running ok under jboss.
1- The wep app deploys. This is a piece of code inside the init() method of a struts plugin:
     System.out.println("0");
     AddressFacadeHome addressFacadeHome = HomeFactory.getAddressFacadeHome();
     System.out.println("1.0");
     AddressFacade addressFacade = addressFacadeHome.create();
     System.out.println("1.5");
2- The code is run when the web app is initialized. This is the error message I get. system.out show that the error occurs on addressFacadeHome.create().
AddressFacade is a remote/local stateless bean. HomeFactory returns the jndi lookup/narrow of the remote object.
0
1.0
caught exception while getting the server instance null
java.lang.NullPointerException
com.evermind.security.User com.evermind.server.ThreadState.getCurrentUser()
ThreadState.java:637
com.evermind.security.User com.evermind.server.ThreadState.getUser()
ThreadState.java:371
fda.common.address.ejb.interfaces.AddressFacade AddressFacadeHome_StatelessSessionHomeWrapper7.create(
AddressFacadeHome_StatelessSessionHomeWrapper7.java:66
void fda.web.oaa.struts.plugin.ApplicationInit.init(org.apache.struts.action.ActionServlet, org.apache
.struts.config.ModuleConfig)
void org.apache.struts.action.ActionServlet.initModulePlugIns(org.apache.struts.config.ModuleConfig)
ActionServlet.java:1105
void org.apache.struts.action.ActionServlet.init()
ActionServlet.java:468
void javax.servlet.GenericServlet.init(javax.servlet.ServletConfig)
GenericServlet.java:258
com.evermind.server.http.ServletInstanceInfo com.evermind.server.http.HttpApplication.loadServlet(com.
evermind.util.ByteString)
HttpApplication.java:1956
com.evermind.server.http.ServletInstanceInfo com.evermind.server.http.HttpApplication.findServlet(com.
evermind.util.ByteString)
HttpApplication.java:4355
void com.evermind.server.http.HttpApplication.initPreloadServlets()
HttpApplication.java:4455
void com.evermind.server.http.HttpApplication.initDynamic(com.evermind.server.http.HttpApplicationConf
ig)
HttpApplication.java:662
void com.evermind.server.http.HttpApplication.<init>(com.evermind.server.Application, com.evermind.ser
ver.http.HttpSite, com.evermind.server.http.HttpApplicationConfig, java.lang.String, java.lang.String, boolean
My guess is that it's a jaas issue (because i see security and getCurrentUser), but at init time, no user is authenticated.
Any clue would be very much appreciated. Let me know if I can provide anything else, such as deployment descriptors.
Thanks,
Christophe.

Answer 1

After spending some time on this, I looked at the source code for com.evermind.server.ThreadState
This is the code that throws the exception:
if(applicationThread != null && applicationThread.httpHandler != null && applicationThread.servletInfo != null)
try
server = applicationThread.httpHandler.request.getApplication().getApplication().getServer();
catch(Throwable t)
System.out.println("caught exception while getting the server instance " + t.getMessage());
t.printStackTrace(System.out);
It looks like this method expects a httpRequest, and would find null because I'm in the servlet.init()
(at least, that's my interpretation)
I tested my code (the remoteFacade.create()) inside of a jsp, and it worked...
So, the next logical question is:
Can I make EJB calls from within the init method of a servlet? (or more specifically from a struts plugin, which I believe should be more or less the same thing)
If so, do I need to take extra steps?
Again, any experience/help on this will be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Christophe.