How does Tomcat locate the webapps directory?

How does Tomcat locate webapps directory? Where is this location set? Is it a relative directory?

Solution 1:

It can be changed in the $CATALINA_BASE/conf/server.xml in the <Host />. See the Tomcat documentation, specifically the section in regards to the Host container:

Tomcat 6 Configuration

Tomcat 7 Configuration

The default is webapps relative to the $CATALINA_BASE. An absolute pathname can be used.

Hope that helps.

Solution 2:

Find server.xml at $CATALINA_BASE/conf/server.xml

Find appBase attribute in <Host> element

by default it will be something like : <Host name="localhost" appBase="webapps ...>

Change appBase to your required path. There are different way people put it, but I use

/c:/myfolder/newwebapps

Remember, no slash at the end, but at start. Also note it's direction as well.

Solution 3:

Change appBase in server.xml

If you want to keep both previous webapps and a new one, you can use another Host instance with another port defined in tomcat.