Reload configureAndWatch automatically in J2EE

From: Earth (eclifeww_at_yahoo.com)
Date: 10/31/04 

Date: 31 Oct 2004 01:32:00 -0800

Hi all,

I have just found that there is an api configureAndWatch in
PropertyConfigurator, which could automatically reload the
log4j.properties at regular interval.

Is this thread safe?

Moreover, I have checked the apache log4j FAQ,

QUOTE
Because the configureAndWatch launches a separate wathdog thread, and
because there is no way to stop this thread in log4j 1.2, the
configureAndWatch method is unsafe for use in J2EE envrironments where
applications are recycled.
UNQUOTE

It suggests that the api is **unsafe** in J2EE as application are
recycled. What does it mean by 'application are recycled'? How to
achieve auto-reloading in J2EE, if the api configureAndWatch is
unsafe.

Thanks,

Earth