Tomcat Administration

In the course Tomcat Administration, participants learn to manage and control the Apache Tomcat web server.

Tomcat Intro

The course Tomcat Administration starts with discussing the different installation options. Next it is shown how Java web applications using servlets and JSP's can be deployed on the server. The web application structure and configuration options with the deployment descriptor are also covered.

Tomcat Architecture

Participants will become familiar with the internal architecture of the server, with JMX (Java Management Extensions) and the use of JMX to manage and monitor the server.

Virtual Hosting

Attention is also payed to the setup of virtual hosting and the different ways to secure web applications using authentication and SSL.

Load Balancing

It is further discussed how to integrate with the Apache Web Server which may serve the static pages or which may have the role of load balancer. The way Tomcat can be configured to enable Web applications to connect to databases is also a course subject.

Clustering

Finally it is discussed how to configure a cluster to ensure the failover in cases of server crashes and to enable the scalability of applications.

JMeter

The JMeter tool will be used to test the performance of Web applications.

Audience Tomcat Administration Course

The course Tomcat Administration is intended for System Administrators and Web Developers who need to administer and control the Tomcat Server and who need to deploy applications onto it.

Prerequisites Course Tomcat Administration

Participants should be familiar basic computing skills like browsing the Web and accessing the directory structure. Knowledge of Web Applications and other Web Servers is beneficial.

Realization Training Tomcat Administration

The theory is covered using presentation slides. The concepts are further explained using demos. The theory is alternated with exercises.

Certificate Tomcat Administration

Attendants receive a certificate of participation in Tomcat Administration after successful completion of the course.

Modules

Module 1 : Tomcat Introduction

• What is Tomcat?
• What is the ASF?
• Apache Name and Market Share
• Java Overview
• Jakarta EE Servers
• Tomcat and JDK versions
• Servlet and JSP versions
• Tomcat Binary Distributions
• Zip versus Exe Installation
• Tomcat Directories
• Server Configuration Files
• Other Configuration Files
• Webapps directory

Module 2 : Java Web Applications

• Servlets and JSP's
• Servlet Characteristics
• JSP Translation Time
• JSP Request Time
• Form Submissions
• POST and GET Data
• Sessions
• Web Application Structure
• WAR Files
• Deployment Descriptor
• Defining Custom URL's
• Preloading pages
• Error pages

Module 3 : Tomcat Architecture

• Structure server.xml
• The Server
• The Service
• Connectors
• Deployment Scenario's
• The Engine
• The Host
• The Context
• Resources
• The Realm
• The Valves
• Lifecycle Listeners
• Apache Portable Runtime

Module 4 : Class Loading

• Class Loading Process
• Class Loaders in JVM
• Delegation Model
• Custom Class Loaders
• Class Loader Behavior
• Class Loader Namespace
• Custom Class Loaders
• Tomcat Class Loaders
• System Class Loader
• Common Class Loader
• Web Application Class Loader
• Class Loader Order

Module 5 : Tomcat and JMX

• What is JMX?
• JMX API
• JMX Goal
• Where is JMX used?
• Managed Beans
• Standard Mbeans
• MBean Server
• Naming MBeans
• JMX Architecture
• JVM Instrumentation MBeans
• Accessing the JMX Agent
• JMX in Tomcat

Module 6 : Virtual Hosting

• Virtual Hosting
• Name-based Virtual Hosts
• Virtual Host Configuration
• Engine with Virtual Hosts
• Directory Structure Virtual Hosts
• Virtual Host Element
• Host File Name-based Hosting
• IP-based Virtual Hosts
• Multiple IP addresses per NIC
• Separate JVM for Each Host
• Server Configuration more JVM's
• Host Configuration more JVM's

Module 7 : Connecting to Databases

• Java Database Connectivity
• JDBC Overall Architecture
• JDBC Executing a Statement
• ClassNotFoundException
• Evolving JDBC versions
• JDBC Driver Types
• Tomcat and JDBC
• JNDI Emulation and Pooling
• Configuring JNDI Resources
• Context.xml in META-INF
• JDBC in Web Applications
• Connection Pooling
• Preventing Connection Leaks

Module 8 : Tomcat Security

• Verifying Download Integrity
• Remove Default Applications
• Change SHUTDOWN command
• Special Tomcat Account
• Securing JVM
• Securing Web Applications
• HTTP Authentication
• Declarative security
• Programmatic security
• Form-based Authentication
• Combined Security Mechanisms
• SSL Characteristics
• SSL Handshakes

Module 9 : Logging

• Logging in Java
• Java Util Logging
• Levels and Log Methods
• Tomcat Logging
• Logging Configuration
• log4j Configuration
• Loggers
• Logger Output Hierarchy
• Inheriting Logging Levels
• Logger Names
• Appenders and Layouts
• Log Analyzer Tools
• Commons Logging

Module 10 : Stack Tracing

• Exception Handling
• try, catch and finally
• Exception information
• Generated Stack Trace
• NullPointerExceptions
• ClassCastExceptions
• NumberFormat Exceptions
• Multiple catch clauses
• User Defined Exceptions
• Chained Exceptions
• Reading Stack Traces

Module 11 : Tomcat and Apache

• Communication with Apache
• Advantages Using Web Server
• Apache Directory Structure
• Configuring AJP
• Configuring mod_jk Connector
• Install mod_jk
• Create mod_jk.conf File
• Create a Worker
• Configure httpd.conf
• Proxying traffic to Tomcat
• Using mod_proxy

Module 12 : Clustering

• Clustering Types
• Horizontal and Vertical Clustering
• Sticky Sessions
• Load Balancing Configuration
• Property File Load Balancing
• Session Sharing Backends
• In-Memory Session Replication
• SimplecpCluster Configuration
• Delta and BackupManager
• Persistent Session on File System
• Persistent Session in Database