How to Start Tomcat Server Ubuntu: A Complete Guide

Introduction

Greetings, and welcome to our comprehensive guide on how to start Tomcat server on Ubuntu. For those unfamiliar, Tomcat is an open-source server for Java Servlet and JSP (JavaServer Pages) specifications. It is a popular server that is widely used in various projects. In this article, we will provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to start the Tomcat server on Ubuntu and demonstrate its advantages and disadvantages. So, let’s dive right in!

What is Tomcat Server?

Before we begin, let’s define what Tomcat server is and what it is used for. In simple terms, Tomcat is a web server that is used to run Java Servlet and JSP web applications. Created by the Apache Software Foundation, a platform-independent server, Tomcat is written in Java, which makes it highly portable across different operating systems. Tomcat is a lightweight server, easy to install and configure, and provides an environment for Java developers to run their web applications.

Prerequisites

Before we get started, please ensure that you have the following:

Items
Description
Ubuntu OS
The latest version of Ubuntu OS installed on your system.
Java Development Kit (JDK)
The latest version of JDK installed on your system.
Terminal
Access to the terminal to execute commands.

Step-by-Step Guide on How to Start Tomcat Server Ubuntu

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to start Tomcat server on Ubuntu:

Step 1: Install Tomcat on Ubuntu

Before starting the Tomcat server, we need to install it first. Here are the steps to follow:

Step 1.1: Open a terminal and enter the following command to update the package list:

sudo apt-get update

Step 1.2: Next, enter the command to install Tomcat:

sudo apt-get install tomcat9

Step 1.3: Once the installation is complete, enter the command below to start the Tomcat service:

sudo systemctl start tomcat9

After executing these commands, Tomcat server will be installed on your Ubuntu system.

Step 2: Access Tomcat Web Interface

After installing Tomcat, you can access the web interface to confirm that the installation was successful. Here’s how:

Step 2.1: Open a web browser and enter the following URL:

http://localhost:8080/

Step 2.2: If installation was successful, you should see the Tomcat default page.

Step 3: Control Tomcat Service

After starting the Tomcat service, you may need to control it by stopping, restarting or checking the status. Here are the commands to do so:

Step 3.1: To stop the Tomcat service, enter the command:

sudo systemctl stop tomcat9

Step 3.2: To restart the Tomcat service, enter:

sudo systemctl restart tomcat9

Step 3.3: To check the status of the Tomcat service, enter:

sudo systemctl status tomcat9

Step 4: Deploy Java Web Applications on Tomcat

Now that Tomcat is installed and running, it’s time to deploy your Java web applications. Here’s how to do it:

Step 4.1: Create a WAR file of your application.

Step 4.2: Copy the WAR file to the Tomcat webapps directory as follows:

sudo cp /path/to/war/file /var/lib/tomcat9/webapps/

Step 4.3: After copying your WAR file, restart the Tomcat server to deploy the application using:

sudo systemctl restart tomcat9

Step 5: Access Java Web Application

Once you have deployed your application, you can access it by entering the following URL:

http://localhost:8080/application-name

Replace “application-name” with the actual name of your application.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Tomcat Server

While Tomcat is widely used and has great benefits, it also comes with its disadvantages.

Advantages

Here are some of the advantages of using Tomcat:

  • Easy to install and configure.
  • Lightweight and highly portable.
  • Provides a stable environment for running Java web applications.
  • Provides support for the latest Java technologies.
  • Free and open-source.
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Disadvantages

On the other hand, here are some of the disadvantages of Tomcat:

  • Not suitable for large-scale enterprise applications.
  • Provides limited support for clustering and load balancing.
  • Requires additional configurations for security.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I know if Tomcat is installed on my Ubuntu system?

You can check if Tomcat is installed on your Ubuntu system by running the command “sudo systemctl status tomcat9”. If it is installed, it will show as “active”.

How do I start Tomcat server on Ubuntu?

To start the Tomcat server on Ubuntu, run the command “sudo systemctl start tomcat9”.

How do I stop Tomcat server on Ubuntu?

To stop the Tomcat server on Ubuntu, run the command “sudo systemctl stop tomcat9”.

What is the default port for Tomcat server?

The default port for Tomcat server is 8080.

How do I change the default port of Tomcat server?

You can change the default port of Tomcat server by modifying the “server.xml” file located in the “conf” folder of the Tomcat installation directory.

How do I deploy a Java web application on Tomcat server?

You can deploy a Java web application on Tomcat server by creating a WAR file of your application and copying it to the “webapps” directory of the Tomcat installation directory.

How do I access the Tomcat manager web application?

You can access the Tomcat manager web application by entering the following URL in your web browser: “http://localhost:8080/manager/html”.

What is the difference between Tomcat and Apache web server?

Apache web server is a general-purpose web server that supports multiple programming languages. Tomcat server, on the other hand, is a specialized web server that is designed specifically for running Java web applications.

Is Tomcat server secure?

Tomcat server itself is secure, but additional configurations are required to ensure the security of your web applications.

Can I run multiple instances of Tomcat server on the same machine?

Yes, you can run multiple instances of Tomcat server on the same machine by configuring each instance to use a different port number.

What programming language is Tomcat server written in?

Tomcat server is written in Java programming language.

Is Tomcat server free?

Yes, Tomcat server is free and open-source.

What are the system requirements for running Tomcat server?

To run Tomcat server, you need a computer with a minimum of 512MB of RAM and a CPU clock speed of 1GHz or higher.

How do I uninstall Tomcat server from Ubuntu?

You can uninstall Tomcat server from Ubuntu by running the command “sudo apt-get remove tomcat9”.

Can I use Tomcat server for commercial purposes?

Yes, you can use Tomcat server for commercial purposes as it is licensed under the Apache License 2.0.

Conclusion

In conclusion, starting the Tomcat server on Ubuntu is a straightforward process. This article has provided you with a step-by-step guide on how to start Tomcat server on Ubuntu, and highlighted its advantages and disadvantages. We hope that this guide has been informative and helpful to you. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to reach out to us.

Take Action Today!

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced developer, Tomcat server is an excellent server choice for running Java web applications. So why not give it a try and see for yourself how it can benefit your projects!

Disclaimer

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