Just wanted to notify everybody here that I have succeeded in web starting J3D both under Linux and Windows.

The only issue I cannot resolve is how to let JWS detect if the target windows machine supports the OpenGL or Direct3D version of J3D. I am assuming it's impossible to do this, but if anybody knows a way?!

Furthermore, there is the legal issue of distributing (parts of) J3D.

Finally, is there a way to detect if J3D is already installed as a standard extension? Currently, the JWS application will download a copy of J3D regardless of the fact that it might already be installed.

Has anybody ever got a Java 3D 1.3 and Java 2 SE 1.4.1 application to start through Java Web Start? I have found articles on this subject, but none seem to work under Linux. I am trying to convert the simple HelloUniverse sample to work under JWS but I get a very strange exception about a class it cannot find:

sun.awt.DrawingSurface

The strange thing is, when I start the application in stand-alone mode with the -verbose option, this class is NEVER loaded. Even weirder, Sun's bug database states this class does not even exist anymore in JDK 1.4.1. The class is probably used from within the Canvas3D class, but I don't seem to understand what's going on.

Any hints?

You might consider using Java Web Start. It has several possibilities for storing user settings either on the server or on the client.