Apache Tomcat Training Overview
Apache Tomcat is the most popular platform for deploying Java™-based web applications. In this two-day course, attendees learn how to administer the Tomcat server, deploy applications to the server, ensure the server's security, troubleshoot problems, and cluster Tomcat to ensure high availability.
This course can be taught using Tomcat 11.0, 10.1, 10.0, 9.0, 8.5, or any other version, with topics added or removed as appropriate to your version. This course can also be adapted to teach administration of TomEE Web Profile.
Location and Pricing
Accelebrate offers instructor-led enterprise training for groups of 3 or more online or at your site. Most Accelebrate classes can be flexibly scheduled for your group, including delivery in half-day segments across a week or set of weeks. To receive a customized proposal and price quote for private corporate training on-site or online, please contact us.
In addition, some courses are available as live, instructor-led training from one of our partners.
Objectives
- Set up and configure Apache Tomcat
- Deploy Java web applications to the Tomcat server
- Configure Tomcat valves for access logging, single sign-on, and access control
- Monitor Tomcat via its JMX MBeans and a variety of tools, including JConsole, VisualVM, and PSI Probe
- Tune Tomcat for optimal performance
- Configure Tomcat logs and troubleshoot Tomcat
- Secure Tomcat
- Build and monitor database connection pools
- Run Tomcat behind a web server, such as Apache httpd or Microsoft IIS
- Build Tomcat clusters to ensure high availability
Prerequisites
All attendees should be familiar with general principles of Web server administration and have some experience building Web applications. Prior experience with Java as an application server administrator or developer is helpful but not required.
Outline
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Introduction
- Overview of the Apache Software Foundation
- Overview of Jakarta EE (formerly Java EE) as a platform
- Overview of the features and functionality specifically provided by Tomcat
Installing Tomcat
- Installing the Java Runtime Environment (JRE)
- Performing the Tomcat installation (with nuances specific to your operating system discussed)
Examining the Tomcat installation directories
- bin
- conf
- lib
- logs
- temp
- webapps
- work
Configuring Tomcat
- server.xml (detailed walkthrough)
- web.xml
- context.xml
Tomcat Valves
- AccessLog
- RequestFilterValve
- Selective coverage of other valves and/or filters as needed in your environment
- Discussion of how filters are progressively replacing valves
Memory management and JMX monitoring
- Understanding Java garbage collection
- Using JAVA_OPTS, JMX and JConsole to monitor and tune Tomcat memory usage
- Sizing Tomcat's JVM memory heap
- Using JMX and JConsole to configure Tomcat via Tomcat's MBeans
- Updating Tomcat's configuration via JMX "on the fly" without restarting Tomcat
- Using VisualVM and PSI Probe
- Commercial monitoring alternatives
Logging
- JULI logging
- Configuring handlers and sources
- Understanding exceptions and thread dumps
Connecting databases with Tomcat applications
- Classic JDBC approach
- Better approach: JNDI resources
- Setting up and monitoring database connection pools
Security
- File system security
- Java security manager
- Realms, authentication, and authorization (if appropriate in your environment)
- SSL (optional)
- Closing potential security holes in Tomcat’s default configuration
- Turning off the shutdown port
- Ensuring directory listings are disabled
- Removing unnecessary applications
- Password protecting the JMX port (if open)
- Turning off unnecessary connectors
- Hardening the remaining connectors
- Hiding the version of Tomcat you are running
- Additional hardening strategies
Performance tuning strategies
- Additional JVM tuning tips
- Changing to a different garbage collector
- Choosing the right connector (NIO or APR)
- Disabling/removing unneeded applications
- Tuning incoming connections and back-end database connection pools
- Turning off Jasper development mode
- Precompiling JSPs
- Preloading servlets
- Turning off autodeploy and automatic watching of web.xml files
- Memory leak prevention and detection
- Alias support (which allow static content to be stored outside the WAR file)
- URL rewriting
Running Tomcat behind Apache httpd or IIS [this section would be taught using your web server and connector module of choice]
- Why run Tomcat behind Apache httpd or IIS?
- mod_proxy_ajp and mod_proxy_balancer (Apache httpd), or URL Rewrite and ARR (IIS only)
- Proxying traffic to Tomcat via AJP or HTTP
- Monitoring the status of your web server's connection to Tomcat
Tomcat Clustering
- Configuring mod_proxy_balancer (Apache httpd) or ARR (IIS) as a load balancer
- Hardware load balancing as an alternative to software load balancing
- Sticky sessions
- Session Replication using <Cluster />
- Configuring the application to be distributable
- Setting up and testing failover
- Alternative session replication back-ends
Conclusion
Training Materials
All attendees receive Accelebrate's comprehensive courseware and a two-page checklist of performance tuning and security suggestions.
Software Requirements
Attendees will not need to install any software on their computer for this class. The class will be conducted in a remote environment that Accelebrate will provide; students will only need a local computer with a web browser and a stable Internet connection. Any recent version of Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, or Google Chrome will be fine.
