If you use annotations, and are happy with default settings, then no additional descriptors are necessary to deploy an EJB. Your code appears to be for a standalone client. In that case, you do not need an ear file. Instead, place the EJB jar file into the server/xxx/deploy directory. And include the client's jar file in the classpath when you run the client (you will also need the interface for the EJB in the classpath). Finally, I am not sure if the @EJB annotation works in remote clients in JBossAS 4.2.x, you might have to use 5.0 (this could explain the null pointer exception you are seeing). View the original post : http://www.jboss.com/index.html?module=bb&op=viewtopic&p=4134624#... Reply to the post : http://www.jboss.com/index.html?module=bb&op=posting&mode=reply&a...