How to Deploy a WAR File to Apache Tomcat (Linux)
Deploying a web application to Apache Tomcat is very straightforward using a WAR (Web ARchive) file. By deploying we mean that we are placing a zipped web application in a location on the file system where Tomcat can make the web page(s) available to the world.
To learn how to deploy a WAR file to Apache Tomcat in a Linux environment, follow these 6 steps:
- You'll need to create a simple web site first by creating a directory and a simple JSP (Java Server Page). The instructions for accomplishing these
tasks were listed in the topic
. **IMPORTANT**
Complete steps 1 and 2 only in
the aforementioned topic. Do not create the XML file that is
shown in that topic as a context descriptor is not required when deploying a WAR file. You will simply create the
/DemoWebsite
folder and one JSP file that is stored in/DemoWebsite
. If you completed that topic in the past, then stop the Tomcat server and deleteDemoWebsite.xml
fromCATALINA_BASE/conf/Catalina/localhost
, e.g.,/var/lib/Tomcat7/conf/Catalina/localhost
. - Open a command prompt and navigate to
/DemoWebsite
. You will execute thejar
utility provided in the Java JDK in order to create the WAR file. The command issudo jar -cvf DemoWebsite.war DateJSP.jsp
: - Copy the WAR file you have just created to
CATALINA_HOME/webapps
, e.g.,/var/lib/tomcat7/webapps
. - Start the Tomcat server.
- In the address area of the browser, type
http://localhost:8080/DemoWebsite/DateJSP.jsp
and submit that address to the browser. - The output of your JSP page will be displayed: