Apache Training Outline

Introduction

• Overview of the Apache Software Foundation and the Jakarta Project
• Overview of J2EE as a platform
• Overview of the features and functionality specifically provided by Tomcat

Understanding Java Web applications and their components:

• Servlets and JSPs
• External classes
• JavaBeans
• Tag libraries
• Configuration files
• Struts site architecture versus classic Model 2 Java architecture

Installing Tomcat

• Installing the Java Runtime Environment (JRE)
• Tweaking the JRE for performance
• Performing the actual Tomcat installation (note: content of this section will vary depending on the platform on which students are installing Tomcat)
• Using Ant to perform the Tomcat installation
• Installing Tomcat from source

Examining the Tomcat installation directories

• bin
• conf
• classes
• lib
• server
• common
• logs
• webapps

Accessing Tomcat

• Starting/stopping the Tomcat service
• Visiting the Tomcat home page
• Examining the Tomcat administrator
• Examining the Tomcat manager
• Starting and stopping individual applications

Basic configuration

• Component-based configuration
• Editing the conf files
• Basic server configuration

Administering a Web application

Understanding the contents of a Web application (detailed tour)

Editing web.xml to control application preferences and behavior

The Tomcat manager and administrator

• Using the Tomcat manager to configure Web applications
• Using Ant to configure Web applications
• Using the administrator to start, stop, and reload applications

Making use of additional Tomcat features

• Access logs
• Valves
• User authentication
• Configuring JNDI resources
• Realms

Connecting databases with Tomcat applications

• Classic JDBC approach
• Better approach: JNDI resources

Security

• File system security
• Java security manager
• Realms
• SSL

Using Ant with Tomcat

• Ant build actions for Tomcat

Virtual/shared hosting

Using JMeter for load testing

• Installing JMeter
• Creating test plans
• Interpreting results