Last week I was working with Apache Tomcat off and on, building an understanding of the basics of its operation.  One of the platforms I work with regularly is BusinessObjects' Data Integrator and the version we are using runs on a HP-UX box.  The web administrator for Data Integrator uses Tomcat as its application framework (Oracle is the main Data Integrator repository).

I wanted to get a better understanding of how the web admin is enabled on the back-end and that led me to Tomcat.  As usual I began looking for and reading all the Tomcat related information I could find.  I was quickly scratching my head trying to understand all the pieces that made both Data Integrator and Tomcat do the work they together.  Honestly, I found the "documentation" on the Apache Software Foundation website less than beginner friendly.  A delivery from Amazon of the O'Reilly Tomcat book didn't help much at first.  Both the Apache website and the O'Reilly  book seemed like they will be more useful as my knowledge increases.

But I've stuck with it and have made some good gains in my understanding in the process.  I was able gather from various readings that there are both sample and administration applications as part of a standard Tomcat installation, if they haven't been removed.  Notice the qualifications of "standard" and "haven't been removed".  I wouldn't necessarily call the Data Integrator setup of Tomcat standard.  I don't think it's particularly unique but it's (DI) a commercial, production distribution and I shouldn't expect that everything would be as it described in available documentation on the Tomcat platform.

Fortunately I have worked with Java technology in the past and have a working knowledge of various implementations, including servlets and JSP.  But I couldn't find the Tomcat samples or Manager webapp on our installation.  With some persistence I was able to piece together the required elements and eventually get the Manager app working in our Data Integrator environment.  Let me say that there wasn't any problem with Data Integrator; I merely wanted a better understanding of how Tomcat was used with Integrator and what options we may have for integrating or enhancing other development within the existing DI/Tomcat infrastructure.  I figured implementing the standard Manager webapp, since it wasn't there and it's part of the Tomcat distro, would be a useful exercise.

This has proved to be the case and I now having the Manager webapp working within our Data Integrator installation and the DI portion has not been adversely affected.  I assumed (hoped) this would be the case, as from a "textbook" perspective there doesn't seem to be any reason why this wouldn't be possible.  Not only should it be possible, my understanding is that running this different components (Data Integrator and the Manager webapp) withing the Tomcat framework is exactly what Tomcat was designed to do.  I would guess that Tomcat experts would say, "Of course; what's your point?"  Well I've already mentioned that I wanted to see how this works and in my usual fashion that meant doing it, that's all.  In hindsight not particularly difficult, but then again if you haven't done it before it can be challenging as well.