Deploying a Web Application on a Tomcat Server using the MHTECHIN Software Development Team

Introduction :

In the world of web development, deploying applications on a robust and scalable platform is essential. Apache Tomcat is a widely used application server that supports the deployment of Java-based web applications. In this article, we’ll explore how the Mhtechin software development team successfully deploys web applications on a Tomcat server, ensuring a smooth and scalable deployment process.

1. Understanding Apache Tomcat

Apache Tomcat is an open-source web server and servlet container that implements the Java Servlet and JavaServer Pages (JSP) technologies. It provides an environment to run Java-based web applications, making it one of the go-to choices for developers.

The Mhtechin software development team uses Tomcat for its simplicity and ease of deployment, particularly when working with Java-based applications in a production environment.

2. Prerequisites for Deployment

Before deploying a web application on the Tomcat server, there are a few things to have in place:

Java Development Kit (JDK) installed.
Apache Tomcat installed (the team typically uses version 9.x or above).
WAR file (Web Application Archive) of the web application, packaged and ready for deployment.
A Linux/Windows environment for hosting the Tomcat server.
Optional: Integration with CI/CD pipelines for automated deployments.

At Mhtechin, the team prepares all the necessary configurations before starting the deployment process, ensuring a streamlined workflow.

3. Steps for Deploying the Web Application

Step 1: Install Java and Set Up Environment

Tomcat requires Java to run. The team ensures that the JDK is installed on the server and the environment variables are set.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install openjdk-11-jdk

Once installed, we verify the Java version:

java -version

Step 2: Download and Install Apache Tomcat

The Mhtechin team uses the official website to download and install the latest stable version of Apache Tomcat.

Download Tomcat from the official Apache website.
Extract the downloaded archive:

   tar xzvf apache-tomcat-9.x.x.tar.gz

Navigate to the extracted Tomcat directory:

   cd apache-tomcat-9.x.x/bin

Step 3: Configure the Tomcat Server

Once installed, we configure the Tomcat server by modifying the server.xml file located in the conf directory. This is essential for binding the server to the desired port (default is 8080).

<Connector port="8080" protocol="HTTP/1.1"
           connectionTimeout="20000"
           redirectPort="8443" />

Step 4: Deploy the WAR File

The next step is deploying the web application to the Tomcat server. At Mhtechin, we ensure that the WAR file is properly packaged and ready for deployment.

Copy the WAR file to the webapps directory of the Tomcat installation.

   sudo cp myapp.war /opt/tomcat/webapps/

Once the WAR file is in the webapps directory, Tomcat will automatically unpack the WAR file and deploy the application.

Step 5: Start the Tomcat Server

Now that the web application is deployed, the Mhtechin team starts the Tomcat server:

sudo ./startup.sh

You can check the server status by navigating to the Tomcat admin interface or visiting the deployed application via:

http://localhost:8080/myapp

4. Configuring Security and Access Control

The Mhtechin team ensures that security best practices are followed when deploying web applications. Some key configurations include:

SSL/HTTPS Setup: Securing the Tomcat server by configuring SSL certificates and redirecting traffic from HTTP to HTTPS.
User Access Control: Configuring the tomcat-users.xml file for access control to the Tomcat manager.

Example configuration for tomcat-users.xml:

<user username="admin" password="password" roles="manager-gui,admin-gui"/>

5. Automating Deployment with CI/CD

To streamline deployments, Mhtechin integrates the Tomcat server into a CI/CD pipeline using tools like Jenkins or Azure DevOps. This allows for automated building, testing, and deployment of the WAR file to the Tomcat server.

Key Benefits:

Automated Builds: Reduces manual work and errors in packaging the web application.
Automated Deployment: Ensures continuous delivery of new features and bug fixes.

6. Monitoring and Logging

Post-deployment, monitoring is crucial to ensure that the application runs smoothly. The Mhtechin team uses the following tools for monitoring and logging:

Tomcat Access Logs: To track incoming requests and their statuses.
Tomcat Manager Application: To manage deployed applications, including starting, stopping, and reloading them.
External Tools: Tools like Datadog or Prometheus for monitoring server performance and uptime.

7. Troubleshooting Common Issues

At times, issues may arise during deployment. The Mhtechin team ensures they have a structured troubleshooting approach:

Check Logs: Look at the catalina.out file for errors or warnings during deployment.
Port Conflicts: Ensure no other service is using port 8080 (the default Tomcat port).
Memory Allocation: Adjust the memory settings in the setenv.sh script if there are memory-related issues.

Conclusion

Deploying web applications on a Tomcat server is a reliable and scalable solution that the Mhtechin software development team uses to ensure seamless application delivery. By following the steps outlined in this article, our team can deploy Java-based applications efficiently, ensuring high availability, security, and performance. As we continue to integrate automation and monitoring tools, we aim to optimize the deployment process further and deliver better web applications faster.

For any queries regarding Tomcat deployment or to suggest improvements, feel free to reach out to the team!

This article provides a comprehensive overview of deploying web applications on a Tomcat server using the processes adopted by the Mhtechin team, covering both manual steps and automation through CI/CD pipelines.

Support MHTECHIN