---
title: How to Install and Configure Apache Tomcat on Linux – Ubuntu
description: "Apache Tomcat is an open-source implementation of Java Servlets, JavaServer Pages (JSP), and Java Expression Language. It’s widely used for running web applications that require Java. Here’s a step-by-step guide to installing and configuring Apache Tomcat on a Linux server,…"
url: "https://truehost.com/support/knowledge-base/how-to-install-and-configure-apache-tomcat-on-linux/"
updated: "2024-11-01"
category: Cloud servers in Kenya
---

# How to Install and Configure Apache Tomcat on Linux – Ubuntu

Apache Tomcat is an open-source implementation of Java Servlets, JavaServer Pages (JSP), and Java Expression Language. It’s widely used for running web applications that require Java. Here’s a step-by-step guide to installing and configuring Apache Tomcat on a Linux server, with a focus on Ubuntu and other Debian-based systems.

**1. Installing Java**

Apache Tomcat requires Java to run. If you don’t already have Java installed, use the OpenJDK package, the default Java package on Ubuntu.

#### Update the system repositories

Start by updating your repositories to ensure you have access to the latest packages:sudo apt update

```
sudo apt update
```

#### Install Java

To install the default Java Development Kit (JDK), run:

```
sudo apt install default-jdk
```

After the installation, verify it by checking the version:

```
java -version
```

**2. Setting Up a Tomcat User**

It’s not recommended to run Tomcat as the root user. Instead, create a dedicated user for Tomcat with restricted privileges:

```
sudo useradd -r -m -U -d /opt/tomcat -s /bin/false tomcat
```

This creates a system user and group named `tomcat` with the home directory set to `/opt/tomcat`.

**3. Downloading Apache Tomcat**

Download the latest Tomcat package (version 9.0.34 in this case) from the official website using `wget`:

```
wget -c https://downloads.apache.org/tomcat/tomcat-9/v9.0.34/bin/apache-tomcat-9.0.34.tar.gz
```

#### Extract the Tomcat Archive

After downloading, extract the package to `/opt/tomcat`:

```
sudo tar xf apache-tomcat-9.0.34.tar.gz -C /opt/tomcat
```

To make future updates easier, create a symbolic link named `updated` that points to the Tomcat installation directory:

```
sudo ln -s /opt/tomcat/apache-tomcat-9.0.34 /opt/tomcat/updated
```

#### Update Permissions

Change ownership of the Tomcat directory so that the `tomcat` user has the necessary permissions:

```
sudo chown -R tomcat: /opt/tomcat/*

sudo sh -c 'chmod +x /opt/tomcat/updated/bin/*.sh'
```

**4. Configuring Tomcat as a Service**

To run Tomcat as a systemd service, create a systemd unit file.

#### Create a Unit File

Use your preferred text editor to create the service file:

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

Add the following configuration. Replace `JAVA_HOME` with your Java installation path if it’s different:

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

[Service]
Type=forking

Environment="JAVA_HOME=/usr/lib/jvm/java-1.11.0-openjdk-amd64"
Environment="CATALINA_PID=/opt/tomcat/updated/temp/tomcat.pid"
Environment="CATALINA_HOME=/opt/tomcat/updated/"
Environment="CATALINA_BASE=/opt/tomcat/updated/"
Environment="CATALINA_OPTS=-Xms512M -Xmx1024M -server -XX:+UseParallelGC"
Environment="JAVA_OPTS=-Djava.awt.headless=true -Djava.security.egd=file:/dev/./urandom"

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

User=tomcat
Group=tomcat
UMask=0007
RestartSec=10
Restart=always

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target
```

#### Reload the Systemd Daemon

After creating the unit file, reload the systemd daemon to recognize the new service:

```
sudo systemctl daemon-reload
```

#### Start the Tomcat Service

Now, start the Tomcat service with:

```
sudo systemctl start tomcat
```

#### Verify Tomcat Status

Check the status of the Tomcat service:

```
sudo systemctl status tomcat
```

#### Enable Tomcat on Startup

To ensure Tomcat starts on system boot, enable the service:

```
sudo systemctl enable tomcat
```

##### **5. Configuring the Firewall**

If your system has a firewall enabled, you need to allow access to port 8080, the default port for Tomcat.

```
sudo ufw allow 8080/tcp
```

##### **6. Verifying the Installation**

Open a web browser and enter the following URL, replacing `<YourIPAddress>` with your server’s IP address:

```
http://your_ip_address:8080
```

If the installation was successful, you should see the Tomcat default welcome page.

## Author's Final Word

This setup provides a solid foundation for running Apache Tomcat on a Linux server. You can now deploy web applications that rely on Java Servlets, JSPs, and other Java-based technologies.