Apache Tomcat 8 Does Not Show in Eclipse Servers List: Troubleshooting Security Permissions Issues

When setting up Apache Tomcat 8 to run with Eclipse, users may encounter issues where the server does not show up in the list of available servers. One common reason for this problem is a security permissions issue that prevents Eclipse from detecting the Tomcat instance. In this article, we will explore some troubleshooting steps to resolve this issue and ensure secure configuration.

To begin with, it is essential to set the correct ownership and permissions for all files and directories related to Tomcat. This includes changing the ownership of all files and directories to the web server user, as well as setting the permissions for each directory and file. Specifically:

* Set the ownership of all files and directories to the webserver user

* Set the permissions for all directories to 500 (rwx------) and all files to 400 (r--r----) except in the bin directory where executables need to be set to 500 as well

In addition, it is recommended to create a group for developers and add both the developers and server users to this group. This will ensure that all members of the development team have access to the necessary files and directories.

Another essential step is to set the sticky bit on the directories so that only the owner of a file can delete it. This is crucial in maintaining the principle of least privilege, which ensures that an attacker who gains unauthorized access to the system cannot compromise the security of the Tomcat instance or modify its configuration.

The Tomcat process runs with a umask of 007, which means that even if an attacker compromises the Tomcat process, they will not be able to change the configuration, deploy new web applications, or modify existing ones. The only exceptions are the logs, temp, and work directories, which are owned by the Tomcat user rather than root.

For example, at the ASF (Apache Software Foundation), the standard configuration for Tomcat instances is to have all files owned by root with group Tomcat and while the owner has read/write privileges, the group only has read permissions. It should not be possible to log on remotely using the Tomcat user.

To ensure secure configuration, it is recommended to create a dedicated user for the Tomcat process and provide that user with the minimum necessary permissions for the operating system. Tomcat should never be run under the root user.

The Non-Tomcat settings section of Tomcat's security howto provides useful information on this topic. By following these guidelines and setting up the correct ownership, permissions, and group membership, you can ensure a secure configuration for your Apache Tomcat 8 instance and resolve any issues with Eclipse not detecting it in the list of available servers.

Apache tomcat 8 does not show in eclipse servers list