Deploying own application on Tomcat 5.0.28

[Priety Sharma]

Hi,

I am trying to create my on jsp application on tomcat.

I created a directory called myonline lib inside the webapps directory and put a simple jsp inside it.
That jsp just has one line of text in it.

Next I went to the Tomcat Manger page and added the name of the directory against the input box "WAR or Directory URL:".

On clicking deploy it got added to the Applications list shown in Tomcat Manager along with the existing applications like "jsp-examples" and the rest.

I even accessed the jsp with the following url:
http://localhost:8080/myonlinelib/homepage.jsp
and it got displayed.

Now when I restart tomact this application disappears from the applications list.
It cant even be accessed by using the url mentioned above.

Why is it so?
What is the right way to install your own application?

[Priety Sharma]

Hi,

Things have improved.
I created a WEB-INF empty folder in my application folder and now the application appears in the listing even if tomcat is restarted.

The problem is solved.
But why is this so. What does an empty WEB-INF directory change things?
I havnt even created a "classes" directory in the WEB-INF directory.

I know that WEB-INF directory is a part of a web application structure.
But still confused.
Can anyone explain?

[Misha Ver]

Priety, have you checked Tomcat documentation http://tomcat.apache.org/tomcat-5.5-doc/index.html ? This part covers covers deployment http://tomcat.apache.org/tomcat-5.5-doc/deployer-howto.html

[Priety Sharma]

Hi Ver,

I went through the following url's.
http://tomcat.apache.org/tomcat-5.5-doc/deployer-howto.html
http://tomcat.apache.org/tomcat-5.5-doc/manager-howto.html#Deploy_A_New_Application_from_a_Local_Path

Both mention ways of deploying tomcat which are very helpful. Thanks for the information.

My question was a little specific.
All I want to know is "What does an empty WEB-INF directory change things?"
Thats all.

Anyway thanks for the input.

[leo donahue]

All I want to know is "What does an empty WEB-INF directory change things?"

1. WEB-INF is defined in the servelt spec
Look in "Web Applications" SRV.9.4 to read about WEB-INF

2. Tomcat is an implementation of the Java Servlet and JSP specs.

3. Unless you are required to work in Servlet Spec 2.4, you should really consider working with a newer version of Tomcat. 6.0.29 is the latest stable release, and it supports Servlet Spec 2.5 http://tomcat.apache.org/download-60.cgi

[Priety Sharma]

Hi Leo,

Thanks for the information. Its much better to know why its necessary.
I will also be going through the spec and if possible downloading Tomcat. 6.0.29.

Thats because I have a very slow connection

Thanks again.