Understanding the Oracle Solaris Cluster Apache Tomcat HA Parameter File

Use this information to understand the contents of the Oracle Solaris Cluster Apache Tomcat HA parameter file. This section describes the structure and the content of the Oracle Solaris Cluster Apache Tomcat HA parameter file, as well as the strategy to choose some of its variables.

Structure of the Apache Tomcat HA parameter file

Apache Tomcat HA uses a parameter file to pass parameters to the start, stop, and probe command. This parameter file needs to be a valid Korn shell script which sets several variables. The structure of this file appears in Table 1-7. For examples of the parameter file refer to Registering and Configuring Oracle Solaris Cluster HA for Apache Tomcat.

Table 1-7 Structure of the Apache Tomcat HA Parameter File

Variable	Explanation
EnvScript	This is a ksh script or a csh script, depending on the login-shell of the user name that owns Apache Tomcat. The purpose of this script is to set the Apache Tomcat specific environment variables, which are needed to start and stop the Apache Tomcat instance.
User	The owner of the Apache Tomcat instance.
Basepath	Basepath is the absolute pathname to the directory where the Tomcat bin directory resides. Typically, it is CATALINA_HOME for 5.x or 6.x.
Host	The Host variable is the Host to test the functionality of the Apache Tomcat server process. The Test is done via a connection to `Host:Port`.
Port	A Port where Apache Tomcat is serving. This Port is used together with the Host to test the functionality of the Apache Tomcat server process.
TestCmd	This variable represents the command that is passed to the Apache Tomcat server process to test its sanity.
ReturnString	The variable `ReturnString` represents the string that must be present in the answer to the `TestCmd`. It cannot be Connection refused because this string is in the answer when the Apache Tomcat server process is not running.
Startwait	This variable represents the number of seconds to wait after the Apache Tomcat start command is completed. It lasts until the Apache Tomcat server process is fully operational. The absolute number of seconds depends on the speed and the load of the hardware. A good strategy is to start with 10-20 seconds.
TestUrl	This variable presents a complete `http` or `https` URL, which is passed to the `wget` command to test the Tomcat server's sanity.
WgetPath	This variable presents the absolute path to the `wget` binary, if the `wget` binary is not located under `/usr/sfw/bin/wget`.

The parameters in Table 1-7 can be changed at any time. The only difference is when changes take effect.

The following parameters of the Apache Tomcat HA parameter file are used for starting and stopping Apache Tomcat. Changes to these parameters take effect at every restart or disabling and enabling of an Apache Tomcat resource.

EnvScript
User
Basepath
Startwait
TestUrl
WgetPath

The following parameters of the Apache Tomcat HA parameter file are used within the fault monitor. Changes to these parameters take effect at every Thorough_probe_interval.

Host
Port
TestCmd
ReturnString

Strategy to Choose the TestCmd and the ReturnString Variable

The following alternatives are available to choose the ReturnString variable:

Take the start page of your application and set the TestCmd to get /start_page. If you picked the wget probe method, set TestUrl to http://ipalias:port/start_page. With this strategy, you are monitoring that Apache Tomcat is serving your application.
Take the Apache Tomcat default start page and set the TestCmd to get /default-startpage. If you picked the wget method, set TestUrl to http://ipalias:port/default-startpage. In this case, set the ReturnString to a string contained in the start page. This string depends on the deployed Apache Tomcat version; for 5.x and 6.x it is CATALINA. With this strategy, you are monitoring that Apache Tomcat is serving its default application.
Deploy a test application (which is not provided with the HA for Apache Tomcat agent) to Apache Tomcat. Set the TestCmd to get startpage_of_the_application. If you use the wget method, set TestUrl to http://ipalias:port/startpage_of_the_application. In this case, set the ReturnString to a string contained in the start page. With this strategy, you are monitoring that Apache Tomcat is serving your test application.
If none of the above is appropriate, set the TestCmd to get /a-page-which-does-not-exists. In this case, set the ReturnString to a string contained in the Error Page. With this strategy, you are monitoring that Apache Tomcat is operational, because it registers that it must deliver a page that does not exist.

You can evaluate the different pages by connecting using a browser with hostname:port and specifying the different pages.

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