FortiClient

Systems

Microsoft

Linux

A Guide to Restarting Tomcat in a Linux Server: Step-by-Step Tutorial

Restarting Tomcat on a Linux server is a crucial task for maintaining the smooth operation of your web applications. In this tutorial, we will provide a step-by-step guide on how to restart Tomcat using the console. We will also explore alternative methods and highlight essential considerations. So let's dive in!


To restart Tomcat on a Linux server using the console, you can follow these steps:
  • Open a terminal or connect to your Linux server using SSH.
  • Identify the location where Tomcat is installed. The installation directory can vary depending on how it was set up, but a common location is `/opt/tomcat`.
  • Change to the Tomcat installation directory. You can use the `cd` command to navigate to the directory. For example:
cd /opt/tomcat
  • Once inside the Tomcat directory, locate the `bin` folder. This folder contains scripts to manage Tomcat.
  • In the `bin` folder, you should find a script named `catalina.sh` or `catalina.bat` (depending on your operating system). This script is used to start, stop, and restart Tomcat.
  • To restart Tomcat, run the following command:
./catalina.sh stop
./catalina.sh start

Note: If you are using a Windows server, the command would be `catalina.bat` instead of `catalina.sh`.
  • Wait for Tomcat to stop completely, and then start it again using the second command.

After executing the restart command, Tomcat will stop and then start again, allowing you to access your web applications hosted on the server. Make sure you have the necessary permissions to execute the commands and access the Tomcat installation directory.

You can use the `kill` command to stop Tomcat on a Linux server. However, it is recommended to use the proper shutdown script (`catalina.sh`) first, as it allows Tomcat to gracefully stop and perform necessary cleanup tasks.

If for some reason you are unable to use the shutdown script, you can resort to the `kill` command as a last resort to forcefully stop Tomcat. Here's how you can do it:

  • Identify the process ID (PID) of the Tomcat process. You can use the `ps` command along with `grep` to filter the process list. For example:
ps -ef | grep tomcat

This will display a list of processes containing the term "tomcat". Look for the process that corresponds to the Tomcat instance you want to stop and note its PID.
  • Once you have identified the PID, use the `kill` command with the appropriate signal (SIGTERM) to stop the process. For example:
kill -15 <PID>

Replace `<PID>` with the actual process ID of Tomcat.
  • Wait for a few moments to allow Tomcat to shut down properly. You can verify if the process has terminated by using the `ps` command again.

Please note that forceful termination using `kill` may not give Tomcat the opportunity to perform cleanup tasks, and there is a possibility of data loss or other issues. It is generally recommended to use the proper shutdown script (`catalina.sh`) whenever possible.