Ubuntu Wiki

• Launchpad Entry: server-maverick-tomcat

• Created: 2010-05-20

• Contributors: ThierryCarrez

• Packages affected: tomcat6

Summary

This spec is about further improvements to the Tomcat stack in Debian and Ubuntu.

Release Note

Apache Tomcat support in Ubuntu 10.10.10 is taken one step further with out of the box support for running the system instance under a specific user and other preseedable deployment options. More documentation makes it clearer how to package your applications for use with the tomcat6 package.

Rationale

Tomcat 6.0.x is the key Java deployment stack in Ubuntu. We must build on the improvements already delivered in 10.04 LTS to enhance even further the experience of using Tomcat in Ubuntu.

User stories

As a Java application deployer, I want to run Tomcat under a specific user name. I use the tomcat6 package available in Ubuntu 10.10.10 and I can preseed the user name I want to use.

As a Java application packager, I want to package my application for Ubuntu. I read the documentation on application packaging and I know the recommended options that I can follow.

Assumptions

None.

Design

Support running under a different user

• Fix tomcat to respect the user defined in /etc/default/tomcat6 (Bug 557300)

Permissions review

• Fix issue with adm group (Bug 569118)

• General directory permissions review

Add debconf/preseed options

• User to run under
• Default JVM values (-XmX)

Transition from libservlet2.[34]-java to libservlet2.5-java

• Ubuntu main packages have already been transitioned (before Lucid release)
• Those changes will be merged back in Debian in the following weeks
• Ubuntu universe packages are still to be transitioned, this will be done directly in Debian SVN

Documentation

• How to package applications with tomcat6
  • When to use the system instance
  • When/how to use a private instance
• Documentation workaround for ipv6/authbind situation

Implementation

Ubuntu team work

See work items in server-maverick-tomcat whiteboard for details.

All this work will be submitted to Debian SVN for sync to Ubuntu.

Debian/Ubuntu common work

• libservlet2.5-java transition for universe packages

Debian-side work

• Documentation workaround for ipv6/authbind situation

Test/Demo Plan

tbd

Unresolved issues

None.

BoF agenda and discussion

UDS discussion notes

Maverick plans

• Improve default values (-XmX) (preseed)
• Support running under a different user (preseed ?)
• Permissions review/fix
• full transition from old libservlet2.[34]-java to libservlet2.5-java
• Documentation for how to package with tomcat6
  • Using the system instance
  • tomcat6-user

Maybe

• Apparmor profile (might be difficult to confine)
• Potential delta with debian ?
  • Apport hook ?
  • Upstartification ?
• ARM optimizations if needed
• Documentation workaround for ipv6/authbind situation

Idea brainstorm

• Deployment tools ?
• application packaging howto (liferay...)

CategorySpec