WebSphere extensions classloader

The WebSphere extensions classloader loads the WebSphere run time. The WebSphere extensions classloader also loads resource provider classes into a server if an application module installed on the server refers to a resource that is associated with the provider and if the provider specifies the directory name of the resource drivers.

The WebSphere runtime classloader loads the WebSphere runtime (infrastructure). The classloader contents are defined by the ws.ext.dirs property, which should not be changed. Classes are loaded from the following locations, in the order listed:

1. /QIBM/ProdData/WebAS5/product/classes, where product is either Base or ND (for Network Deployment)
   This directory is used to provide iSeries changes to the core WAS runtime.
2. /QIBM/ProdData/WebAS5/product/lib and /QIBM/ProdData/WebAS5/product/lib/server, where product is either Base or ND (for Network Deployment)
   These directories contain the core WAS runtime.
3. /QIBM/ProdData/WebAS5/product/lib/ext, where product is either Base or ND (for Network Deployment)
   This directory contains extensions to the core WAS run time.
4. /QIBM/UserData/WebAS5/product/instance/lib/ext, where product is either Base or ND (for Network Deployment) and instance is the name of your WebSphere Application Server instance
   This directory is maintained for compatibility with version 4. Utility libraries placed here can make use of the OS/400 JVM's direct execution mode. For more information on the direct execution mode, see Java execution modes.