Introduction
Apache Tomcat can run various Java technologies, and runs the JavaServer (JSP), JavaServlet, and Java Expression languages. This article will show you how to install Apache Tomcat Server and set up the Web Application Manager on Ubuntu 20.04 in 11 easy steps. Apache Tomcat Server can be installed right from Ubuntu’s software repository, which contains the latest, most stable version of the Tomcat server.
Step 1: Update APT
First, as always, update your APT.
Step 2: Check for Tomcat in Repository
Check for the Tomcat server package in the repository. The repository will show you all the latest packages available for download.
$ sudo apt-cache search tomcat
Step 3: Download Tomcat
Download the tomcat9 package and the tomcat9 admin package and its dependencies with the following terminal command.
$ sudo apt install tomcat9 tomcat9-admin
Step 4: Install Apache Tomcat Server
When the download is finished, it will install the Apache Tomcat Server, which will start up automatically. For verification, type the following ss command, which will show you the 8080 open port number, the default open port reserved for Apache Tomcat Server.
Step 5: Change Tomcat Settings
When the Ubuntu OS reboots, the Apache Tomcat Server will start automatically. This program setting can be changed by entering one of the following two commands.
$ sudo systemctl enable tomcat9
OR
$ sudo systemctl disable tomcat9
Step 6: Allow Traffic to Port 8080
If firewall ports, specifically UFW, are active on your system, devices that want to connect with the Apache Tomcat Server will have difficulty connecting. To allow traffic from any source to port 8080 of the Tomcat Server, type in the following command.
$ sudo ufw allow from any to any port 8080 proto tcp
Step 7: Test Tomcat Server
Now, you may test your Tomcat server. When Tomcat starts running, you can test the program in a web browser. Using the system’s loopback address, you can connect to the Tomcat server by specifying the port with the address in the URL search bar, as follows:
Tomcat is up and running if you see this page, “it works!”.
Step 8: Create User
You should create a user for the Web Application Manager in the Tomcat Server. A new user account must be set up to use the Apache Tomcat Web Application Manager.
Open the tomcat-users.xml file in the Tomcat directory with your favorite text editor.
$ sudo nano /etc/tomcat9/tomcat-users.xml
Step 9: Add Tagged Lines
When the file is opened, add these three tagged lines in the file above the “<” tag. Here, new user with the name “tomcat” has been created with a password set as “pass.” Add your own values as substitution for the username and password.
<role rolename=“admin-gui”/>
<role rolename=“manager-gui”/>
<user username=“tomcat” password=“pass”roles=“admin-gui,manager-gui”/>
Save the file and close it. Now, we can move on to accessing the manager application area.
Step 10: Restart Tomcat
Restart the Tomcat Server with the following command.
$ sudo systemctl restart tomcat9
Step 11: Access Tomcat Application Manager
In order to access the Tomcat server web application manager, enter the URL: http://127.0.0.1:8080/manager/html into the web browser URL search bar and press enter. Next, enter the credentials that you gave to the new user in Tomcat Server. You should now see the Web Application Manager Window.
Conclusion
The Apache Tomcat Server is a great software program for deploying a Java HTTP server. Setting up Apache Tomcat Server on Ubuntu 20.04 is very easy and does not require complex commands.
About the author
Younis Said
I am a freelancing software project developer, a software engineering graduate and a content writer. I love working with Linux and open-source software.