Master Apache Tomcat: Complete Web Server Course Outline (Beginner to Advanced)

🌐 Tomcat Web Server Course Outline (Beginner to Advanced, Latest Features 2025)

📌 Introduction

Apache Tomcat is a widely-used open-source web server and servlet container for hosting Java-based web applications. Developers and system administrators need Tomcat expertise to deploy, secure, and optimize modern Java applications. This course roadmap covers Tomcat from installation and configuration to advanced deployment, performance tuning, and integration with modern technologies, including the latest updates for 2024–2025.

📘 Detailed Course Outline

Module 1: Introduction to Tomcat

What is Tomcat and its role in web application hosting
Tomcat vs other web servers (IIS, Nginx, Apache HTTPD)
Tomcat architecture: connectors, Catalina, Coyote, Jasper
Tomcat versions overview (latest stable 10.x / 11.x)
Installing Tomcat on Windows, Linux, and macOS

Module 2: Basic Tomcat Configuration

Directory structure and configuration files overview
Configuring server.xml and web.xml
Understanding ports, connectors, and listeners
Starting, stopping, and restarting Tomcat
Deploying a simple web application

Module 3: Application Management

Deploying WAR files manually and via Tomcat Manager
Auto-deployment vs manual deployment
Context paths and application context configuration
Virtual hosts setup for multiple applications
Managing session configuration and timeouts

Module 4: Security Fundamentals

Tomcat security architecture
User roles and access control (tomcat-users.xml)
Configuring HTTPS/SSL and TLS
Enabling security constraints in web.xml
Hardening Tomcat against common vulnerabilities

Module 5: Advanced Configuration

Clustering and session replication for high availability
Load balancing with Apache HTTPD and Tomcat (mod_jk, mod_proxy)
Memory and JVM tuning for Tomcat
JNDI DataSources and database connection pools
Logging configuration and best practices

Module 6: Performance Tuning & Monitoring

Monitoring Tomcat with JMX and VisualVM
Access logs and application performance monitoring
Thread pool and connector optimization
Caching strategies for web applications
Profiling and diagnosing slow requests

Module 7: Tomcat and Modern Web Applications

Hosting Spring Boot, Jakarta EE, and JSP applications
Integrating Tomcat with CI/CD pipelines
Deploying microservices on Tomcat
Using Tomcat in Docker containers and Kubernetes
WebSocket and HTTP/2 support

Module 8: Troubleshooting & Best Practices

Common Tomcat errors and their resolution
Debugging applications with Catalina logs
JVM crash and thread dump analysis
Backup and restore Tomcat configuration
Security, deployment, and performance best practices

Module 9: Latest Tomcat Features (2024–2025 Updates)

Support for Jakarta EE 10+
Enhanced HTTP/2 and ALPN support
Improved session replication and clustering
Docker-native Tomcat images
Security updates and integration with modern Java versions (Java 20+)
Enhanced logging and monitoring capabilities

📌 Conclusion

Mastering Apache Tomcat equips developers and system administrators to deploy, secure, and optimize Java-based web applications efficiently. From basic installation to advanced performance tuning, clustering, and modern cloud deployment, this course roadmap ensures learners are ready to handle professional enterprise and cloud-based environments using the latest Tomcat features.