Need help to set up Tomcat for the first time

[thelordoftherings]

Hello,

I've created a "hello world" servlet, compiled it and now I need help in activating it.
I am using Tomcat 4.01 on Windows 98 with JDK1.4.
Can someone please guide me, step by step, how do I configure Tomcat and how do I activate my first servlet example?

 

[sedj]

OK, so here is a example servlet :

http://jakarta.apache.org/tomcat/tomcat-4.1-doc/appdev/sample/src/mypackage/Hello.java

Note that it is in a package "mypackage". This is important.

When you have compiled it, then place it in your ROOT webapp directory (use ROOT because it is good for learning), so put it in :

TOMCAT_HOME/webapps/WEB-INF/classes/mypackage

The edit your web.xml file in TOMCAT_HOME/webapps/ROOT/WEB-INF

Add these lines :

        <servlet>
                <servlet-name>MyServlet</servlet-name>
                <servlet-class>mypackage.MyServlet</servlet-class>
                <load-on-startup>1</load-on-startup>
        </servlet>

    <servlet-mapping>
        <servlet-name>MyServlet</servlet-name>
        <url-pattern>/servlet/MyServlet</url-pattern>
    </servlet-mapping>

You can then access your servlet like this :

http://localhost:8080/servlet/MyServlet

--------------------------------------------------
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http://www.primrose.org.uk

 

[thelordoftherings]

Two more questions:
1. Shouldn't I set the CATHALINA_HOME variable as well ?
2. What does the web.xml uses for ?

 

[sedj]

Yes you should set your CATALINA_HOME to your install directory of tomcat :

DOS :
set CATALINA_HOME=C:\wherever

Linux/UNIX
export CATALINA_HOME=/wherever

web.xml allows you to map servlets, set up webapp specific parameters, set welcome-files and so on.

--------------------------------------------------
Free Database Connection Pooling Software

http://www.primrose.org.uk

 

[thelordoftherings]

Hey,

You told me to put the compiled class at:
TOMCAT_HOME/webapps/WEB-INF/classes/mypackage

Inside WEB-INF I don't have the classes directory and even when I create it and put the compiled file there the Tomcat can't find it, I receive this error (My servlet name is Hello):
Apache Tomcat/4.0.1 - HTTP Status 404 - /servlet/Hello

 

[sedj]

Sorry, typo :

TOMCAT_HOME/webapps/WEB-INF/classes/mypackage

should be :

TOMCAT_HOME/webapps/ROOT/WEB-INF/classes/mypackage


--------------------------------------------------
Free Database Connection Pooling Software

http://www.primrose.org.uk

 

[thelordoftherings]

Still doesn't work...
I receive:
Apache Tomcat/4.0.1 - HTTP Status 404 - /servlet/Hello
Any ideas?

 

[sedj]

Post your :

- directory structure of webapps/ROOT
- Your web.xml
- The URL you are using.

--------------------------------------------------
Free Database Connection Pooling Software

http://www.primrose.org.uk

 

[thelordoftherings]

It is working now!
I had to configure the TOMCAT_HOME to be the tomcat's directory and now it is working.
Although, it is working even if I remove the web.xml configuration that you told me to put. Why is that? If it is working without it, why do we need to configure it for?

 

[sedj]

You may have the invoker server in conf/web.xml enabled, or tomcat may be caching your web.xml.

It is always a good idea to map your servlets in web.xml, you'll have problems down the line if you don't ...

--------------------------------------------------
Free Database Connection Pooling Software

http://www.primrose.org.uk

 

[thelordoftherings]

Another q:
What is the different between web.xml and server.xml?

 

[sedj]

web.xml configures web applications, server.xml configures the server.

--------------------------------------------------
Free Database Connection Pooling Software

http://www.primrose.org.uk