Introduction To 2 Java-based Web Servers: Tomcat and Jetty

If you ever do business in large government and enterprise sectors, you may get a request for Java. Java, the most popular programming language, rules enterprises. It only makes sense that they’d want their web server based on their favorite programming language.

Sometimes Java gets written directly in to the spec sheet, so they must use it. Java is also very popular in college classrooms. Java is also the programming language for Android apps.

Regardless of the reason for wanting it, chances are, they are going to want either Tomcast (Walmart and E*Trade use Tomcat), or Jetty (Google App Engine and portions of Ubuntu use Jetty). Most likely they want Tomcat. Though the goal is the same (serving HTTP data), the 2 have distinct purpose.

Tomcat

Tomcat is maintained by the Apache Foundation, the same organization that maintains the normal Apache web server. cPanel can setup Tomcat for you. However, it is an either-or situation because the 2 cannot run at the same time on the same port. Only one server can have the HTTP port (80). If the customer wants Tomcat, he will need a VPS or dedicated machine. Set it up for him, and then let him be.

Or, you will need a separate branch in your server infrastructure that is Java-based. On a per-request basis, you can give the Tomcat-based shared hosting environment. Hosting requests for Tomcat are so infrequent, this is not worth the effort.

Jetty

The other possible Java server is Jetty. Jetty is maintained by the Eclipse Foundation, the maintainers of Eclipse, a very popular programming environment for Java. Jetty’s primary use is a per-application basis where a web server is embedded directly in to the program. 2 web servers can run at the same time. They just require different ports (such as setting one to port 80 and another to port 81). If their Jetty-based application needs port 80, the same port that you have Apache or Tomcat running, then the only thing you can do is turn the web server off or move it to a different port. This service can only be possible in VPS or dedicated machines.

As stated before, you can have 2 web servers running. You can have both Tomcat, Apache, and Jetty all running at the same time on different ports (80, 81, 82, etc). However, having all those web servers simply do not work well with cPanel. Also, web browsers expect to use port 80. The standard hosting provider solution is to offer dedicated or VPS for Java based web servers. That should be your answer too.