Java EE (Java Enterprise Edition) General Discussion

I developed a JSP that queries a database, displays the results in a browser, and writes the results to the server as a file. While the user is viewing the JSP, they can click on a download link to save the file that was written to the server. Everything works fine!

I would like to delete the file that was written to the server (to save space), however, I can't delete the file until the user is finished viewing the JSP. I need some help concerning this method: java.io.File.deleteOnExit() the API states:

"Requests that the file or directory denoted by this abstract pathname be deleted when the virtual machine terminates. Deletion will be attempted only for normal termination of the virtual machine, as defined by the Java Language Specification (12.9)."

If I use this method, When does the JVM exit? I tested it in my home environment using Tomcat and the file was deleted when I stopped Tomcat. If I run this on a web server, does the JVM ever exit? If so when?

Thanks

--Scott