| # The Apache Tomcat 5.5 Servlet/JSP Container |

# The Apache Tomcat 5.5 Servlet/JSP Container ## Virtual Hosting and Tomcat
Table of Contents
Assumptions server.xml Webapps Directory Configuring Your Contexts General context.xml - approach #1 context.xml - approach #2 Further Information
Assumptions
For the sake of this how-to, assume you have a development host with two host names, `ren` and `stimpy`. Let's also assume one instance of Tomcat running, so `$CATALINA_HOME` refers to wherever it's installed, perhaps `/usr/local/tomcat`. Also, this how-to uses Unix-style path separators and commands; if you're on Windows modify accordingly.
server.xml
> At the simplest, edit the Engine portion of your `server.xml` file to look like this:
>     <Engine name="Catalina" defaultHost="ren">
>         <Host name="ren"    appBase="renapps"/>
>         <Host name="stimpy" appBase="stimpyapps"/>
>     </Engine>
Note that the directory structures under the appBase for each host should not overlap each other. Consult the configuration documentation for other attributes of the Engine and Host elements.
Webapps Directory
> Create directories for each of the virtual hosts:
>     mkdir $CATALINA_HOME/renapps
>     mkdir $CATALINA_HOME/stimpyapps
Configuring Your Contexts
> General
> Contexts are normally located underneath the appBase directory. For example, to deploy the `foobar` context as a war file in the `ren` host, use `$CATALINA_HOME/renapps/foobar.war`. Note that the default or ROOT context for `ren` would be deployed as `$CATALINA_HOME/renapps/ROOT.war` (WAR) or `$CATALINA_HOME/renapps/ROOT` (directory). NOTE: The `docBase` for a context should never be the same as the `appBase` for a host.
> context.xml - approach #1
> Within your Context, create a `META-INF` directory and then place your Context definition in it in a file named `context.xml`. i.e. `$CATALINA_HOME/renapps/ROOT/META-INF/context.xml` This makes deployment easier, particularly if you're distributing a WAR file.
> context.xml - approach #2
> > Create a structure under `$CATALINA_HOME/conf/Catalina` corresponding to your virtual hosts, e.g.:
> >     mkdir $CATALINA_HOME/conf/Catalina/ren
> >     mkdir $CATALINA_HOME/conf/Catalina/stimpy
> > Note that the ending directory name "Catalina" represents the `name` attribute of the Engine element as shown above. Now, for your default webapps, add:
> >     $CATALINA_HOME/conf/Catalina/ren/ROOT.xml
> >     $CATALINA_HOME/conf/Catalina/stimpy/ROOT.xml
> > If you want to use the Tomcat manager webapp for each host, you'll also need to add it here:
> >     cd $CATALINA_HOME/conf/Catalina
> >     cp localhost/manager.xml ren/
> >     cp localhost/manager.xml stimpy/
> Further Information
> Consult the configuration documentation for other attributes of the Context element.
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