tomcat server (or like) on top of webserver

Networking and Multiplayer Programming

Started by zfvesoljc October 26, 2013 07:44 AM

4 comments, last by hplus0603 10 years, 5 months ago

605

Author

October 26, 2013 07:44 AM

I'm working an application, let's call it a tool server which will accompany the target applications. The tool server is written in c/c++ and its embedding mongoose web server to allow http/websocket connections. To the target application it's connected via customized network library. The basic logic works: web server hosts a web page, which is using JS and websocket and the communication flow targetapp <-> toolserver <-> webpage is working as intended. This allows us to create "simple" web apps for stats tracking, logging and some data editing. But to do some more "serious" apps we need java applets. To run them we need a proper java server like tomcat.

I'm doing some research on how to combine these two things. I read about mod_jk which is a link between tomcat and apache web server, but since I'm kinda new in these waters, I'm looking for some advice.

1) What would be the "smoothest" way to integrate tomcat server into existing setup? I'd prefer to have a copy only "installation", so when toolserver is started the tomcat should also start, and vice versa on stopping. Just install run/stop service?

2) Biggest issue is how to link web server with tomcat. I presume the webserver would still be entry point? How to handle websocket communication from tomcat webpage to web server and then to tool server?

SillyCow

1,534

October 26, 2013 12:00 PM

use a proxy to redirect some url paths to your app, and some to other servers.

You can either use "Apache web-server" or NGINX to do that.

With apache: http://httpd.apache.org/docs/2.2/mod/mod_proxy.html

Then you get apache to point certain paths to your customized server, and other paths to tomcat (running on a different port).

The nice thing about this method, is that it can redirect any HTTP traffic (no need for other plugins) . The bummer, is that it has some performance issues with regards to rerouting http traffic. But unless you are serving large video files you shouldn't worry about that.

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hplus0603

11,916

October 26, 2013 07:43 PM

to do some more "serious" apps we need java applets. To run them we need a proper java server like tomcat.

Why?

Java applets is a dead client-side technology. Browsers are starting to drop Java support entirely (for security reasons.)

Java servlets are a server-side technology that lets you write server functionality in Java, and they run in tomcat -- I'm going to assume that's what you mean.

If you can write C/C++ code, why couldn't you write the server functionality in C/C++?

Separately, if you want to use another environment, why would you use tomcat, instead of node.js, or mochiweb, or yesod? (Node.js is especially nice for quick development, as it can share JS code with the front end)

The easiest way to use multiple server technologies is to host them on different ports. There's nothing saying a HTTP connection needs to happen on port 80, or a HTTPS port needs to happen on port 443.

If, for some reason (such as cross-origin rules) you need the same base hostname, you can use a proxy that can send different incoming paths to different local ports. You'd configure nginx or whatever to send www.yourhost.com/somepath to the C++ side, listening on port A, and www.yourhost.com/otherpath to the other-server side, listening on port B. As an additional benefit, you can then block ports A and B from the greater internet, lowering the exposed surface area a little bit.

enum Bool { True, False, FileNotFound };

zfvesoljc

605

Author

October 28, 2013 08:45 AM

Thanks guys. Multiserver logic is clear now.

As for java, I'm still figuring out if this is actually still a valid requirement.

zfvesoljc

605

Author

October 28, 2013 10:31 AM

Well as I understand it, we are calling java code from js:


<%
javafunc();
%>

hplus0603

11,916

October 28, 2013 03:10 PM

as I understand it, we are calling java code from js

That's not how it works. The code you suggested looks like a Java server page. That page is parsed by the Java server serving the page, and calls the function, before the client sees it at all.

enum Bool { True, False, FileNotFound };

tomcat server (or like) on top of webserver

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