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Apache Tomcat vs GeoServer: What are the differences?
Introduction
Apache Tomcat and GeoServer are two popular open-source software applications used for different purposes. While Apache Tomcat is a web server and servlet container, GeoServer is a geospatial server that allows users to share and edit geospatial data. Despite some similarities in their functionality and support for Java-based development, there are several key differences between Apache Tomcat and GeoServer.
Architecture: Apache Tomcat is designed as a web server and servlet container, providing a runtime environment for Java-based web applications. It serves as a host for Java Servlets, JavaServer Pages (JSP), and other Java-based technologies. On the other hand, GeoServer is a specialized geospatial server that focuses on serving geospatial data in various formats like WMS (Web Map Service) and WFS (Web Feature Service).
Functionality: Apache Tomcat primarily focuses on running web applications and supporting Java-based web technologies. It provides support for servlets, JSP, and JavaServer Faces (JSF). On the other hand, GeoServer is designed specifically for managing and serving geospatial data. It offers functionalities like data storage, data styling, and spatial analysis.
Data Integration: Apache Tomcat does not have built-in functionality for working with geospatial data. It primarily deals with web application deployment and execution. In contrast, GeoServer is designed to handle geospatial data and provides various mechanisms to integrate different types of data sources. It supports file-based data sources like shapefiles, as well as relational databases and web services.
User Interface: Apache Tomcat does not provide a graphical user interface (GUI) out of the box. It usually requires manual configuration and management through XML-based configuration files. On the other hand, GeoServer offers a web-based administration interface that allows users to configure and manage the server easily. It provides a GUI for data management, styling, and other server settings.
Community and Ecosystem: Apache Tomcat has a large and active community of users and developers, contributing to its ongoing development and improvement. It has been widely adopted as a standard web server and servlet container for Java-based applications. GeoServer also has a significant user community, mainly within the geospatial domain. However, its ecosystem is more specific and focused on geospatial data management and sharing.
Purpose: The primary purpose of Apache Tomcat is to serve as a Java-based web server and servlet container, providing a runtime environment for Java web applications. It focuses on supporting general web development and deployment scenarios. On the other hand, GeoServer is specifically designed for geospatial data management and sharing, targeting users who deal with geographic information systems (GIS) and geospatial data.
In summary, Apache Tomcat and GeoServer are two distinct software applications with different purposes. Apache Tomcat is a web server and servlet container focused on web application execution, while GeoServer is a geospatial server specialized in managing and serving geospatial data. Their architecture, functionality, data integration capabilities, user interface, community, and purpose are the key differences that set them apart.
I was in a situation where I have to configure 40 RHEL servers 20 each for Apache HTTP Server and Tomcat server. My task was to 1. configure LVM with required logical volumes, format and mount for HTTP and Tomcat servers accordingly. 2. Install apache and tomcat. 3. Generate and apply selfsigned certs to http server. 4. Modify default ports on Tomcat to different ports. 5. Create users on RHEL for application support team. 6. other administrative tasks like, start, stop and restart HTTP and Tomcat services.
I have utilized the power of ansible for all these tasks, which made it easy and manageable.
Pros of GeoServer
Pros of Apache Tomcat
- Easy79
- Java72
- Popular49
- Spring web1
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Cons of GeoServer
Cons of Apache Tomcat
- Blocking - each http request block a thread2
- Easy to set up1
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What is GeoServer?
What is Apache Tomcat?
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