Note about crashes - it depends on which java version/vendor used and how it used.

If IBM JVM 1.3.1 is using - it may need to disable JIT, which occasionally crash.
Issuing SET JAVA_COMPILER=XXX helps.

For Innotek JVM 1.4.2 - some old versions if this JVM have stability problems, now it fixed (i hope .

I personally use JVM 1.4.1 from GoldenCode Development. It runs flawlessly.