Cant run a Servlet

[Pavani Sannidhanam]

Hi
I've installed Tomcat4.1.12 and j2sdk1.4.0_02and the class file is in the ROOT directory which is in the Tomcat software itself. The context path in servlet.xml was set to "ROOT".
The java servlet class file is stored in the directory:
c:\Tomcat\webapps\ROOT\WEB-INF(web.xml)\classes\HelloWorld.class
The web.xml file for HelloWorld is in the dir WEB-INF. classes is a dir created by me.
HelloWorld.java doesnt have any errors. Compilation was successful but cant run the Servlet. When i type the URL:
http://localhost:8080/ROOT/servlet/HelloWorld
it says :
HTTP Status 404 - /ROOT/servlet/HelloWorld
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
type Status report
message /ROOT/servlet/HelloWorld
description The requested resource (/ROOT/servlet/HelloWorld) is not available.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Apache Tomcat/4.1.12
instead of getting HelloWorld on the webpage.
Can you plz help me why iam getting this type of error even though the class path is set correctly.my Email Id is [e-mail]
Thanks
Pavani.

[William Brogden]

Two things
1. You don't have to include ROOT in the URL
2. If you are going to use the /servlet/ClassName method of invoking a servlet you have to have the "invoker servlet" turned on. Tomcat used to be distributed with this function turned on so all the old books and articles assume it.
Look in the /conf/web.xml file for entries related to the "invoker" servlet.
Bill

[Eric Christensen]

William, do you know why they started turning the invoker servlet off?

[Ivan Tamayo]

They put the invoker servlet off for security reasons