Introduction

Apache Tomcat is a popular open-source Java servlet container that implements various Java EE standards, such as the Java Servlet, JavaServer Pages (JSP), and WebSockets. Installing Tomcat on your Windows machine allows you to host and manage web applications developed with Java.

This article will guide you through the steps necessary to successfully install Tomcat on a Windows computer.

Prerequisites

– A Windows computer with administrator privileges.

– The Java Development Kit (JDK) installed. Make sure to set the JAVA_HOME environment variable.

Step 1: Download Tomcat

1. Open your web browser and go to the Apache Tomcat official website: https://tomcat.apache.org/

2. Click on the “Download” link in the menu bar.

3. Choose your desired Tomcat version from the available options.

4. Download the “32-bit/64-bit Windows Service Installer” package under the “Binary Distributions -> Core” section.

Step 2: Install Tomcat

1. Locate the downloaded installer file in your Downloads folder and double-click on it to start the installation process.

2. Accept the license agreement and click “Next”.

3. Make sure to have the following components selected: Core, Docs, Host Manager, Manager, and Examples. It is recommended to leave other settings as default unless you know what you’re doing.

4. Choose a destination folder for your Tomcat installation (e.g., C:\Program Files\Apache Software Foundation\Tomcat X). Click “Next”.

5. Set up an administrator username and password for managing your Tomcat instance using the Manager app and Host Manager app. Remember these credentials!

6. Review your configuration settings, then click “Install”. The setup wizard will install Apache Tomcat on your Windows machine.

7. Once completed, click “Finish”.

Step 3: Configure Environment Variables

After successfully installing Tomcat, it is necessary to configure the CATALINA_HOME environment variable:

1. Right-click on “Computer” or “This PC” in the Start menu, then click “Properties”.

2. Click on “Advanced system settings” located on the left side of the System window.

3. In the “System Properties” window, select the “Environment Variables…” button.

4. Click on “New…” under “System variables”. Set the variable name as CATALINA_HOME and set the variable value to your Tomcat installation path (e.g., C:\Program Files\Apache Software Foundation\Tomcat X). Click “OK”.

Step 4: Start and Verify Tomcat

1. Go to your Tomcat installation folder (e.g., C:\Program Files\Apache Software Foundation\Tomcat X).

2. Navigate to the “bin” folder.

3. Double-click on “startup.bat”. A command prompt window will open and display the Tomcat startup process.

4. Once started, open your web browser and enter http://localhost:8080/ in the address bar.

5. If your Tomcat installation is running correctly, you should see the Apache Tomcat default homepage.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have successfully installed Apache Tomcat on your Windows machine. You can now deploy, manage, and run web applications developed using Java technologies with ease.