http://glassfish.java.net/javaee5/ejb/EJB_FAQ.html
The @EJB annotationand the ejb-ref/ ejb-local-ref .xmlelements are used to specify the same semantic information. Specifically, that a Java EE component has adependency on a local or remote EJB component. Every @EJB canbe translated into an equivalent ejb-ref/ ejb-local-ref. @EJB iseasier to use but it serves the same purposeas ejb-ref/ ejb-local-ref. Here's a table with more details :
What is therelationship between @EJB and ejb-ref/ejb-local-ref?
The @EJB annotationand the ejb-ref/ ejb-local-ref .xmlelements are used to specify the same semantic information. Specifically, that a Java EE component has adependency on a local or remote EJB component. Every @EJB canbe translated into an equivalent ejb-ref/ ejb-local-ref. @EJB iseasier to use but it serves the same purposeas ejb-ref/ ejb-local-ref. Here's a table with more details :
@EJB attribute | Description | Default value | ejb-refequivalent | ejb-local-refequivalent |
name | Unique location within the private component namespace(java:comp/env). | field-level : <fully-qualifiedname of declaringclass>/<field-name> method-level : <fully-qualifiedname of declaring class>/<propertyname> class level : name isrequired. | ejb-ref-name | ejb-ref-name |
beanInterface | For EJB 3.x business interfaces, the Local or Remote businessinterface of the session bean. For EJB 2.x, the Home/LocalHome interface of the session/entitybean. | field-level : the type of the declared field. method-level : the type of the single setter parameter class level : beanInterface isrequired. | For EJB 3.x :<remote> For EJB 2.x : <home> | For EJB 3.x : <local> For EJB 2.x : <local-home> |
beanName | ejb-name (not global JNDI name)of the target ejb component within the application. This can be used whenever the target ejbcomponent is defined within the same application as the referencingcomponent, regardless of local vs. remote. Theonly time it can't be used is if the @EJB refersto a Remote interface (3.x or 2.x) that is defined outside theapplication. | Automatically resolved if there is only one EJB component withinthe application that exposes the valueof beanInterface | ejb-link | ejb-link |
lookup *(Added in EJB 3.1) | Specifies the portable JNDI nameof the target EJB component to whichthis @EJB dependencyrefers. This should be usedinstead of mappedName incases where an @EJB dependencyneeds to be resolved to a Remote EJB component defined in adifferent application. It can also be used tochain one @EJB dependencyto another @EJB dependency. | n/a | lookup-name | lookup-name |
mappedName | Specifies the product-specific name of the target Remote EJBcomponent. For GlassFish, this refers to theglobal JNDInameof the target Remote EJB component. Not applicable for local interfacesbecause beanName canalways be used instead. *(Should not be used in EJB 3.1. See lookup instead) | If the target EJB component is defined within the same applicationand the beanNamedefaultapplies, no additional mapping is required. Otherwise, the target global JNDI namewill be set to the value of beanInterface | mapped-name | n/a |