How to Install Apache Tomcat on Ubuntu 22.04

Step 1: Update Your System

Before installing Apache Tomcat, make sure your system is up to date. Run the following commands:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

It is crucial to keep your system updated for security and performance, especially if you are running it on a VPS Windows Servers platform.

Step 2: Install Java

Apache Tomcat requires Java to run. Install the latest OpenJDK package by running:

sudo apt install openjdk-11-jdk -y

Verify the Java installation:

java -version

Step 3: Create a Tomcat User

For security reasons, it is a good idea to run Tomcat under a separate user. Create a new user and group for Tomcat:

sudo groupadd tomcat
sudo useradd -s /bin/false -g tomcat -d /opt/tomcat tomcat

Step 4: Download and Install Apache Tomcat

Go to the official Apache Tomcat website to download the latest version. Use the following command to download Tomcat:

cd /tmp
wget https://downloads.apache.org/tomcat/tomcat-10/v10.1.0/bin/apache-tomcat-10.1.0.tar.gz
            

Extract the downloaded file to the /opt/tomcat directory:

sudo mkdir /opt/tomcat
sudo tar xzvf apache-tomcat-10.1.0.tar.gz -C /opt/tomcat --strip-components=1

Step 5: Configure Permissions

Set the correct permissions for the Tomcat directory:

sudo chown -R tomcat: /opt/tomcat
sudo chmod -R 755 /opt/tomcat

Step 6: Create a Systemd Service File for Tomcat

Create a systemd service file to manage the Tomcat service:

sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/tomcat.service

Add the following content to the file:

[Unit]
Description=Apache Tomcat Web Application Container
After=network.target

[Service]
Type=forking

User=tomcat
Group=tomcat

Environment="JAVA_HOME=/usr/lib/jvm/java-11-openjdk-amd64"
Environment="CATALINA_PID=/opt/tomcat/temp/tomcat.pid"
Environment="CATALINA_HOME=/opt/tomcat"
Environment="CATALINA_BASE=/opt/tomcat"
Environment="CATALINA_OPTS=-Xms512M -Xmx1024M -server -XX:+UseParallelGC"
Environment="JAVA_OPTS=-Djava.awt.headless=true -Djava.security.egd=file:/dev/./urandom"

ExecStart=/opt/tomcat/bin/startup.sh
ExecStop=/opt/tomcat/bin/shutdown.sh

Restart=on-failure

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target
            

Save and close the file.

Reload systemd to apply the new service file:

sudo systemctl daemon-reload

Step 7: Start Tomcat Service

Start and enable the Tomcat service:

sudo systemctl start tomcat
sudo systemctl enable tomcat

Check the status of the Tomcat service:

sudo systemctl status tomcat

Step 8: Configure Firewall (Optional)

If you have UFW (Uncomplicated Firewall) enabled, allow traffic on port 8080, which Tomcat uses:

sudo ufw allow 8080

Step 9: Access Tomcat Web Interface

You can now access the Tomcat web interface by opening your browser and navigating to:

http://:8080

You should see the Apache Tomcat default page, indicating that Tomcat is successfully installed.