The java.sql.DriverManager class gives this documentation. "As part of its initialization, the DriverManager class will attempt to load the driver classes referenced in the "jdbc.drivers" system property. This allows a user to customize the JDBC Drivers used by their applications. For example in your ~/.hotjava/properties file you might specify: jdbc.drivers=foo.bah.Driver:wombat.sql.Driver:bad.taste.ourDriver " Where can i find this ~/.hotjava/properties file ?