A process and system for externalizing classloader information to non-application
modules such as tool modules that do not reside within the same Application server
virtual machine such as a J2EE AppServer JVM. Tools that read and display classloader
information typically need to co-reside within the AppServer because of the virtual
machine security mechanisms that prevent classes outside the virtual machine itself
to introspect the classloaders. This presents a problem for tooling vendors because
most server owners do not want anything other than their applications running within
the AppServer virtual machine. The invention allows tooling vendors to create a
classloader tool that is external to the AppServer virtual machine, and which is
running in a completely separate virtual machine, thus having minimal overhead
on production systems, but which allows classloading through standard or open (e.g.
non-proprietary) interfaces.