Installing a Local Servlet Container: Tomcat

Before we start the installation, you need to have the Java JRE installed. You can download it from: Java Downloads (Oracle)

To install Tomcat on Windows, go to its website: Apache Tomcat

In the left column, select the version you want (obviously, we recommend the latest one).

 

At the time of writing this tutorial, the latest version available was 7.0.

Select “32-bit/64-bit Windows Service Installer” to start downloading Tomcat.

 

Once you have the exe file, run it.

 

Install Tomcat by clicking “Next” on the welcome screen.

 

On the next screen, accept the terms by clicking “I Agree”.

 

Check all the boxes (“Examples” is optional) and click “next”.

 

In the next window, check “Create shorcuts for all users” if you want shortcuts to be created. You can also enter a username and password if you like, although it isn’t necessary if you’re just going to tinker around. Then click “next”.

 

In the next window, choose the location on your disk where the Java JRE is installed. By default the installer finds it on its own; if not, you’ll have to browse for it. Click “next” again.

 

Now you need to tell the installer where on your disk you want to install Tomcat. Finish with “Install”. The installation will begin, and when it finishes, close the installer.

 

Tomcat is now installed. Next we have to run it. On Windows Vista and later, you need to run it with Administrator permissions (otherwise Tomcat will throw an error on startup). To do that, right-click the shortcut (if it isn’t on the desktop, it will be under All Programs; you can also search for “Monitor Tomcat” in the Windows search box) and select “Run as administrator”.

 

You’ll know Tomcat is running when you see a feather with a green arrow next to the Windows clock (to access all the settings or to stop Tomcat from Windows, just right-click the feather and the options will appear).

 

To check that Tomcat was installed correctly, do the following. With Tomcat running, open a browser and enter the address: http://localhost:8080/

If you see the Tomcat tiger and the success message that says “If you’re seeing this, you’ve successfully installed Tomcat. Congratulations!”, then everything is ready.