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Subject: Re: Host appBase
From: Daniel Mikusa <dmikusa@gopivotal.com>
In-Reply-To: <0E912D55-1698-4D38-BC98-93FF1913D5F0@cyberlifelabs.com>
Date: Fri, 8 Nov 2013 15:29:00 -0500
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References: 
 <D72C174D3CAC0A4E812FAD012D646E9F256CD2A583@CMS1.enterprise.maricopa.gov>
 <0E912D55-1698-4D38-BC98-93FF1913D5F0@cyberlifelabs.com>
To: "Tomcat Users List" <users@tomcat.apache.org>

On Nov 8, 2013, at 1:54 PM, Milo Hyson <milo@cyberlifelabs.com> wrote:

> The term that immediately comes to mind is YAGNI. How many of these =
things have legitimate use-cases and how many are simply there because =
it was thought somebody somewhere someday *might* want to adjust them?

> /dev/null

I disagree with this statement.  The default settings in Tomcat are =
convenient and provide a good general environment for deploying =
applications, however it is always nice to be able to adjust and =
customize things.  With the exception of xmlBase, I've used all of the =
settings below on multiple occasions and I'm glad they exist.

>=20
> - Milo Hyson
> Chief Scientist
> CyberLife Labs, Inc.
>=20
> On Nov 8, 2013, at 9:18 AM, Leo Donahue - OETX =
<LeoDonahue@mail.maricopa.gov> wrote:
>=20
>> Tomcat 7.0.47
>>=20
>> Reading over the security benchmark I posted a link to earlier, there =
is one that suggests to separate out the web content directory from the =
Tomcat system files.  Reading the Tomcat docs for appBase, I see I can =
set this value.
>>=20
>> Reading further down in the Tomcat docs for Host, other questions =
have spawned... and I blame it on being Friday.
>>=20
>> 1.  When/Why would I change the xmlBase directory location? =20

Can't say I've ever used this setting before.  The default has always =
worked nicely for me.  It's here for flexibility though.  For example if =
you would like to locate your xml context files outside of CATALINA_BASE =
or CATALINA_HOME.  Perhaps on a different disk or partition.

>> For the same reasons I would change the appBase directory?

I see this used occasionally.  Some users like to host their =
applications in a dedicated folder like "/my-apps".  Often on a =
different disk or partition.


>> 2.  What is the benefit of un-packing WAR files?

I'm not sure there's a concrete answer here.  Generally I see people =
unpack WAR files, but it's not a must.  One nice thing about having the =
WAR file exploded is that I can edit certain files without having to =
redeploy my application.


>> 	a.  If you drop a WAR file into your webapps directory (appBase =
I guess), and it unpacks, should you leave the WAR file there or remove =
it?

If Tomcat is running, you would leave it there unless you want to =
undeploy the application.  Then you would delete it. =20

If Tomcat is not running, you could delete the WAR file.  If the =
exploded WAR directory still exists you could start Tomcat back up and =
run the application from it.  Running from an exploded WAR directory has =
some advantages like the WAR file doesn't need to be extracted on =
startup and you can edit certain files without needing to redeploy.


>> 3.  WAR files located outside of the Host's appBase will not be =
expanded...
>> 	a.  Why would I deploy WAR files outside of the Host's appBase?

This is a preference / customizability thing.  Some people prefer to =
deploy their applications to a custom folder like "/my-apps", but =
instead of pointing the entire appBase at this directory they'll use a =
context file in the xmlBase to deploy an application that is outside of =
the appBase.

One reason that I've personally used this is when developing software.  =
I set the docBase in a context file to point to the directory that =
contains the output from Maven.  Paired with the "reloadable" setting, =
this means that Tomcat will redeploy my application automatically when =
trigger a Maven build.


>> 	b.  Where are those deployed?  By specifying the docBase?

Files outside of the app base can be anywhere.  As you mentioned, you'd =
just point to them with the docBase.


>> 4. What is the difference exactly between appBase and docBase?

The appBase (configured on the Host tag, defaults to "webapps") points =
to a directory that can contain web applications to be deployed to =
Tomcat.  Any valid web app in that directory will get deployed. =20

The docBase (configured on the Context tag) points to a directory or WAR =
file for one specific application.


>> If the Context is specified in server.xml, I can have an appBase and =
a docBase?

I wouldn't suggest adding Context tags in server.xml.  You can but it's =
not flexible and you need to restart Tomcat to make changes.  As far as =
appBase and docBase, you can specify both although they are specified on =
two different tags (Host vs Context).  When you specify a Context tag in =
server.xml, you need to specify a docBase.  You would never specify a =
docBase that points to an application residing under the appBase.  That =
would be bad.


>>  I know docBase has to be set outside of the Host's appBase, but why =
would I have two locations for WAR files?

Not sure I understand this question.  Perhaps you have multiple =
applications to deploy, some are located in the appBase and some are =
not.

Dan=

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