Configuring a Webapp in Apache Tomcat and Serving It via Httpd

Migrating an old JSP project to a new server recently got me to spend some time with Apache Tomcat and document the configuration. The starting point was a JSP application (webapp) that was to be served through an existing Apache HTTPd web server.

The following description refers to a Windows Server, but it should be just as easy to implement on Linux.

Preparation

Create the application directory D:\Websites\www.domain.at\webapps.
Create the log directory D:\Websites\www.domain.at\logs.
Create the Tomcat configuration directory %CATALINA_HOME%\conf\Catalina\www.domain.at.
The IP address of the desired hostname “www.domain.at” MUST resolve to the IP of the Tomcat server!

Creating a Tomcat Virtual Host

The desired VirtualHost has to be added to the Server.xml in the CATALINA_HOME directory:

<Host name="www.domain.at" appBase="D:/Websites/www.domain.at/webapps" unpackWARs="false" autoDeploy="true">
    <Valve className="org.apache.catalina.valves.AccessLogValve"
        directory="D:/Websites/www.domain.at/logs" prefix="tomcat_log."
        suffix=".txt" pattern="%h %l %u %t %r %s %b" />
</Host>

Then restart the Tomcat service.

Setting Up the Webapp

Put the finished application in the ROOT directory below the application directory.
The application must contain a valid “web.xml” configuration file in the “WEB-INF” subdirectory.

Example Web Application

webapps
+---test
   +---calendar
   ¦   +---img
   +---images
   +---WEB-INF
       +---classes
           +---com
           ¦   +---[...]
           +---dbtools
           +---test

Integration into Apache Httpd

Create a new worker for the virtual host in worker.properties:

worker.list=workerDOMAIN
worker.workerDOMAIN.type=ajp13
worker.workerDOMAIN.host=www.domain.at
worker.workerDOMAIN.port=8009

In the directive (of Apache HTTPd!), link the (sub)directory to the Tomcat worker:

JkMount /* workerDOMAIN

Note: “JkMount /test/* workerDOMAIN” maps the request www.domain.at/test/ to the directory www.domain.at:8009/test/ on Tomcat!