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Mukulit Bhati - PeerSpot reviewer
CTO at InsightGeeks Solutions Pvt.
Real User
Beneficial comparability, easy to manage database interactions, and large online support resources
Pros and Cons
  • "One of the most valuable features of Tomcat is its compatibility with the Apache web server and its ease of configuration. It is simple to set up and maintain and allows for easy management of database connections, transactions, and isolation. Overall, Tomcat is a user-friendly application server that makes it easy to manage various aspects of database interactions."
  • "One way to improve the solution is by making the logging capabilities of Tomcat better by providing a logger within the server itself and making it easy to access and view the server logs. This can be especially useful when debugging issues with applications deployed on the Tomcat server. By having the ability to view both the application logs and the server logs, you can more easily identify the source of any issues and troubleshoot them more efficiently. Providing a connector or other similar feature that allows you to access the server logs from within your application can also be helpful in this regard. Having access to both the application logs and the server logs can be a valuable resource when trying to identify and resolve problems."

What is our primary use case?

We are using Tomcat and we are making the configuration with the help of Spring Boot only.

Tomcat is cloud-based, and all the microservices are developed in Spring Boot.

What is most valuable?

One of the most valuable features of Tomcat is its compatibility with the Apache web server and its ease of configuration. It is simple to set up and maintain and allows for easy management of database connections, transactions, and isolation. Overall, Tomcat is a user-friendly application server that makes it easy to manage various aspects of database interactions.

Tomcat is running a lot of services and operating to my requirements. 

What needs improvement?

One way to improve the solution is by making the logging capabilities of Tomcat better by providing a logger within the server itself and making it easy to access and view the server logs. This can be especially useful when debugging issues with applications deployed on the Tomcat server. By having the ability to view both the application logs and the server logs, you can more easily identify the source of any issues and troubleshoot them more efficiently. Providing a connector or other similar feature that allows you to access the server logs from within your application can also be helpful in this regard. Having access to both the application logs and the server logs can be a valuable resource when trying to identify and resolve problems.

To make it easier to identify and troubleshoot issues, it can be helpful to have a single location where you can view both the application logs and the server logs together. This could include only the debug and error logs, rather than all logs, to make it easier to focus on potential issues. By having all relevant logs in one place, you can more easily scan for problems and identify their source, whether it is within the application or the server. This can save time and improve the efficiency of your troubleshooting efforts.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Tomcat for approximately five years.

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What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I have not had a problem where the solution failed.

I rate the stability of Tomcat an eight out of ten.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

We have approximately 70 people using this solution in my company.

I rate the scalability of Tomcat an eight out of ten.

How are customer service and support?

Tomcat itself does not need any support. Everything is on the internet. Proper documentation is there. I have never tried to contact or ask for support from Tomcat. Wherever there is no support, it is the best support for a solution.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

As the CTO, I compared Apache Tomcat with IBM WebSphere Application Server and Oracle GlassFish. In the end, I chose Tomcat because it is easy to understand, well-documented, and has a strong community of users and developers. It is also straightforward to debug any issues that may arise. Tomcat is a reliable and user-friendly choice for an application server.

One of the advantages of using Tomcat is the strong community of users and developers that provides a wealth of knowledge and resources online. If you encounter any issues or problems while using Tomcat, it is likely that others have experienced the same issue and have shared their solutions online. This makes it easy to find answers and get support when you need it. In contrast, IBM WebSphere Application Server has a smaller user base, so there are fewer discussions and resources available online to troubleshoot problems. Tomcat's widespread use and strong online community make it a reliable and supportive choice for an application server.

I find IBM WebSphere Application Server very difficult to configure and with Oracle GlassFish, there is no proper documentation.

Tomcat is best for my use case.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup of Tomcat is straightforward compared to other options on the market, such as IBM WebSphere Application Server. In contrast to IBM WebSphere Application Server, which can be difficult to configure, Tomcat has a user-friendly setup process. Additionally, Tomcat has a default configuration that is optimized for performance, making it a good choice for those who may not be familiar with configuration settings. The default values in Tomcat are set to the best configuration, ensuring that even those who are not experts in configuration can use Tomcat effectively.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The price of the solution is good.

I rate the price of Tomcat an eight out of ten.

What other advice do I have?

While Tomcat is a reliable choice for an application server, it may not be the best option for real-time tasks involving TCP connections, WebSockets, and socket programming. In these cases, Netty may be a better choice due to its stability and performance. In your experience, you found that Tomcat was prone to connection issues when used for socket programming, leading you to switch to Netty. It is important to consider the specific needs and requirements of your project when deciding which tool or technology to use.

I rate Tomcat an eight out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Public Cloud
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
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Principal Infrastructure Solution Architecture at National Bank of Kuwait
Real User
Top 5
While the setup of the solution is straightforward, it needs a considerable number of bug fixes
Pros and Cons
  • "Our company doesn't face any stability issues while using Tomcat."
  • "Vulnerability is one of the areas that can be considered an issue in the solution."

What is our primary use case?

Tomcat is there in most vendor solutions, and people rarely agree to port it to JBoss. So, most business applications have it. Additionally, multiple banking solutions are using Tomcat. Also, the solution runs on Solaris, AIX, Windows, and Linux.

What is most valuable?

Since I don't have too much exposure to the solution, I cannot comment on the features I like the most in the solution.

What needs improvement?

Vulnerability is one of the areas that can be considered an issue in the solution. Apart from that, there are no other issues with the solution. Also, I cannot comment on what additional features and changes need to be made in Tomcat.

With the solution's community version, we always have some patches and bug releases. However, we cannot deploy it since the vendor doesn't certify the book fixes in the solution. In short, we cannot just use it in production and test it ourselves when the vendor does not certify it. If a vendor is using a Tomcat-based application, then the vendor should be prompt enough to fix the available bugs in that particular version, which is not the case in reality. Any vendor who releases a product on Tom Cat should keep revising the version of their product based on the latest available bug-free version. These are some of the areas which can be challenging for those using Tomcat.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Tomcat for a long time now. So, it is not a new thing. Previously, the only concern in our organization was that we were stuck with open-source Tomcat. Before, Tom Cat was available in Red Hat's version, which got removed later. Now, they have packaged it under JBoss. Currently, it is a challenge for us to maintain the solution as an open-source tool.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Our company doesn't face any stability issues while using Tomcat. The only challenge we face using the solution is the bug-fixing scenario. So, when the security does a scanning, especially vulnerability scanning, we get into trouble. The vulnerability scanning points out a lot of bug fixes. Also, the vendors are not ready to test, or they don't give us testing results in a timely manner. Since it remains a pending issue, specifically the vulnerability issues, we cannot close it on time since it is on an open-source platform. The open-source community has introduced a patched version, but when a company uses Tomcat, the vendor may not be prompt enough to certify it with the latest patches and bug fixes.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The number of users can vary greatly depending on the specific product they opt for, and since I don't have an inventory for all the products that users are using, I cannot comment on the numbers. Generally, there are both back-office users and customer-facing users in most solutions.

Speaking about scalability, we use NGINX in front of Tomcat.

I won't be able to provide a rating on the scalability of the solution since we don't have a requirement in a company to scale up as of now. Also, we don't see such uses in our company wherein we have to consider a need beyond the four people who use the solution in our company.

How are customer service and support?

There is no technical support since it is an open-source solution. In our organization, we attempted to secure paid support, but we were unable to reach a consensus internally to move in that direction.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

In our organization, we use IBM WebSphere.

How was the initial setup?

The solution's initial setup is straightforward since it is a file-based configuration.

Steps in deployment involve installing the product and then copying the configuration.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

If it is a community version of the solution, no payment is required. However, if it is a Linux version, we must buy the solution from JBoss.

What other advice do I have?

In our company, we always favor products like IBM WebSphere as it is a vendor product for which we get the right amount of support we need. Also, we are using IBM WebSphere on AIX. Hence considering our use cases, we feel that IBM WebSphere is a more stable and reliable platform. So as a critical system, we are using the aforementioned solution. We use Tomcat in a company when we have no other options and are forced to use it, especially in scenarios where no other platforms are supported. So, if we have an option in our company, then we keep the usage rate of Tomcat low. Overall, I rate the solution a six out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
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Developer, Tech Lead at iT corner
Real User
Top 5
Manages server applications effortlessly with open-source and customizable capabilities
Pros and Cons
  • "It is easy to manage at a basic level."
  • "I have no recommendations for improvements."

What is our primary use case?

I am using Apache Tomcat for development purposes, specifically for deploying applications both on a local system and in a cloud environment. It is used in the IT industry.

What is most valuable?

I find Apache Tomcat very popular since it is easy to manage at a basic level. I can manage a complete server application. It is easy to host applications, customize, and configure. Even if I don't have much technical knowledge, I can manage it as a developer. Its security value is also good. It is open source and lightweight, which saves costs.

What needs improvement?

I have no recommendations for improvements.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been working with Apache Tomcat for more than ten years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I think Apache Tomcat is excellent in terms of performance and stability. It is a stable solution as it frequently releases upgraded versions and patches.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I believe Apache Tomcat is scalable. It is stable and easily adaptable for different environments.

How are customer service and support?

I have never consulted the customer support or technical support of Apache.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Neutral

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I have not used any other tool before working with Apache Tomcat for application deployment.

How was the initial setup?

I would rate the initial setup of Tomcat as either a nine or ten out of ten in terms of ease. It is very easy to set up as it only takes a few minutes for deployment.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

Apache Tomcat is open source, so there are no associated costs for licensing or setup.

What other advice do I have?

I recommend using Apache Tomcat due to its open-source nature, lightweight design, and ease of installation and configuration. 

I rate the overall solution ten out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
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VASUDEVA UNGATI - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Director - Quality Engineering at mobileum
Real User
Top 5Leaderboard
A convenient solution that is useful for web applications
Pros and Cons
  • "The solution is convenient. It is a comfortable and easy-to-use solution for my use cases."
  • "The product needs to have more updates."

What is our primary use case?

We use the solution as a web server for web-based applications. We also build data containers using it. 

What is most valuable?

The solution is convenient. It is a comfortable and easy-to-use solution for my use cases. 

What needs improvement?

The product needs to have more updates. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using the product for ten years. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I rate the solution's scalability a nine out of ten. 

How was the initial setup?

There is no complexity in deploying Tomcat. 

What other advice do I have?

We regularly upgrade to the latest versions of Tomcat and apply security patches to comply with the latest security aspects.

I rate it a nine out of ten. 

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
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Arkabrata  Ghosh - PeerSpot reviewer
Java developer at Marlabs Inc.
MSP
Top 5Leaderboard
A highly stable solution that can be used for stand-alone applications and databases
Pros and Cons
  • "Tomcat is easy to handle, its installation process does not take much time, and its server speed is also very good compared to other servers."
  • "Sometimes, the UI part does not run properly, or the server goes down."

What is our primary use case?

Tomcat is a server that we use for stand-alone applications and databases.

What is most valuable?

Tomcat is easy to handle, its installation process does not take much time, and its server speed is also very good compared to other servers.

What needs improvement?

Sometimes, the UI part does not run properly, or the server goes down.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Tomcat for two years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I rate Tomcat ten out of ten for stability.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I rate Tomcat an eight out of ten for scalability.

How are customer service and support?

I have often faced issues for which I had to connect to the IT team. Sometimes, the UI part does not run properly, or the server goes down. I need to raise a ticket to restart the server. They will give us user ID and password for specific members so that we can fix the server issue. We need to get permission from the network team or IT team.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

How was the initial setup?

Tomcat's initial setup is easy. You can also change the port number. Running two or more applications in the same console or ID can result in a conflict. If we change the port number, Tomcat can easily identify this and keep to the specified web page.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

Tomcat is an open-source server.

What other advice do I have?

The solution is lightweight and provides the high flexibility needed in any stand-alone application.

Overall, I rate Tomcat a nine out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
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SrinivasPakala - PeerSpot reviewer
Director Consulting Expert at a computer software company with 10,001+ employees
Real User
Top 20
A lightweight tool that offers efficiency in terms of memory and resource usage
Pros and Cons
  • "The product's initial setup phase was simple."
  • "Performance optimization is an area of concern in Tomcat that should be made better."

What is our primary use case?

My company uses Tomcat, which offers good features like servlet and JSP support. Tomcat is an open-source tool, and its community support is also good. Tomcat is a lightweight tool in nature, making it efficient in terms of memory and resource usage, allowing for optimized resource usage. Tomcat is a tool that can be embedded in other applications, allowing flexibility and deployment options. The security features of the tool are good. Tomcat offers good features in terms of cluster support, configuration, and maintenance.

What needs improvement?

Performance optimization is an area of concern in Tomcat that should be made better. I think the performance optimization has to be improved for monitoring, management of logs, load balancing, and containerization support. I think there is a need for some enhancement in the product's security as I work in my company's security area. If someone asks me about Tomcat from a performance perspective, I would say that tuning thread pools, caching, and compression needs improvement. In general, Tomcat should provide regular updates with respect to security.

I think Tomcat is a good and lightweight tool, but it needs improvement in areas like security and performance. Maybe a web application firewall or WAF products can be considered to protect the applications on websites, which is again some improvements needed from a security perspective. If you ask me about the feature and monitoring and management of logs, which are generally areas related to APM, needs improvement. Even the alerts provided by the tool need improvement.

Some simplified configurations and enhanced clustering can be considered for improvement in the product.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Tomcat for a few years. My company is a user of the product.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Considering that the product's performance and security need to be improved, I rate the solution's stability a seven to eight out of ten.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

There are no issues with Tomcat's scalability. Scalability-wise, I rate the solution an eight out of ten.

I think a few hundred people use Tomcat for multiple projects.

How are customer service and support?

The solution's technical support is good. I rate the technical support an eight out of ten.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

Though I have experience with Jetty, Wildfly, and GlassFish, I feel that Tomcat offers users a better product.

How was the initial setup?

The product's initial setup phase was simple.

The solution is deployed on an on-premises model. My company plans to deploy the solution on a cloud-based model for our clients.

What about the implementation team?

In my company, we follow the right documentation we get from Tomcat, which allows us to get the right set of results and helps us with the product's installation and integration areas. My company generally doesn't have to depend on external help for the product's installation phase as Tomcat's documentation is good.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

For some of the projects, my company needs to use the licensed version of Tomcat. My company cannot always depend on the free version offered by Tomcat.

I rate the product's price an eight on a scale of one to ten, where one is a high price, and ten is a low price.

What other advice do I have?

I rate the overall product an eight out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
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RABBAHMahmoud - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Technical Architect at RABBAH SOFT
Real User
Top 10
Preferred application server for microservices developed in Java, particularly those using the Spring Boot framework
Pros and Cons
  • "I would rate the pricing a ten out of ten, where one is high price and ten is low price. The pricing is pretty low."
  • "If it could support the driver's VIN, they can run natively without the GBM. Now, we can run what we call the native cloud application that doesn't require GBM. If Tomcat can support that, it's going to improve performance and backup."

What is our primary use case?

Most microservices developed in Java are based on the Spring Boot framework, which ships Tomcast as the application server for each microservice.

Tomcat is not like a standalone application server because its main end use is to ship microservices. We don't use it like a standalone server nowadays.

What needs improvement?

If Tomcat could support the driver's VIN, they can run natively without the GBM. Now, we can run what we call the native cloud application that doesn't require GBM. If Tomcat can support that, it's going to improve performance and backup.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Tomcat for more than ten years. It's now embedded in Spring Boot applications, and the most modern architectures are based on microservices.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I would rate the stability an eight out of ten.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I would rate the scalability a nine out of ten. The scalability now is mainly for microservices that run on Tomcat, which are shifted like containers, and the scalability of the containers is the same, independent of whether the server applications are from cards or other things. So, scalability for now is much easier.

The solution is suitable for small and medium businesses (SMBs).

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I worked with JBoss WildFly. We chose Tomcat because it is already integrated with Spring Boot framework, that's its main strength. If I compare it to JBoss, which is still not mainly integrated with that kind of framework.

How was the initial setup?

It is embedded now, so we don't have any integration to do because Spring Boot comes with it already. It's like one integrated environment with Spring Boot.

The deployment method can be on-premises and on cloud. 

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

I would rate the pricing a ten out of ten, where one is high price and ten is low price. The pricing is pretty low. 

What other advice do I have?

I would recommend using this solution. Overall, I would rate the solution an eight out of ten.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
System Architect at UST Global España
Real User
Top 5Leaderboard
Once you package your application, deployment is straightforward and efficient
Pros and Cons
  • "Tomcat is a single-server solution for deploying applications that can scale effectively. It's a good choice because it simplifies deployment. Once you package your application, deployment is straightforward and efficient."

    How has it helped my organization?

    Tomcat is actively used, and there are many more instances like it. Numerous sites using this application server, which is relatively easy to set up. I can use JBoss or any other deployment tool that is available, but I mostly use some technical tools for this purpose.

    What is most valuable?

    Tomcat is a single-server solution for deploying applications that can scale effectively. It's a good choice because it simplifies deployment. Once you package your application, deployment is straightforward and efficient.

    What needs improvement?

    If you have multiple tasks, you definitely need different ideas. However, if you only consider the deployment of an application to a target server, it’s mainly about the technical performance. There might be some challenges because it’s only a website, but the server should solve the issue. You deploy the website there, and sometimes you might need multiple servers.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I have been using Tomcat for eight years.

    How are customer service and support?

    The solution has good support.

    Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

    Spring Boot is the most commonly used development tool, everyone is using Tomcat, which comes bundled with Spring Boot. Spring Acura comes with a Tomcat category.It provides a good UI and makes it more applicable as long as the client resources are accessible. There is no difference; we're using a single port. Anybody can assign a port number to it. You cannot change it to your firmware, but you can change it.

    How was the initial setup?

    To deploy an application in Tomcat, you simply need to install the software, navigate to the deployment directory, and place the WAR  or JAR file there. Registering the server is then necessary. The time required for deployment depends on the size of the WAR or JAR file. It's better to place the file in the appropriate directory for your specific product. Be aware that the deployment time can vary, in a SaaS environment. Generally, deployment times are quick, but this can change based on the application.

    Which other solutions did I evaluate?

    I'm using both Tomcat and GlassFish.

    What other advice do I have?

    When declaring the application, the springboard is ready for use with Apache Tomcat. By default, it comes this way when you unplug it from Git. So, when you are deploying any application, it uses Apache Tomcat by default.

    One engineer is enough for the solution.

    In data centers, we need to analyze the backlog. You need a cost analyst to determine if integration or migration is necessary. Both are important for identifying requirements. Once you have clarity on these points, you can proceed with management. If these factors are achievable in the decision-making process, then it's worth considering.

    Overall, I rate the solution a ten out of ten.

    Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
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