prashant

The three types of platforms that you can use for developing servlets and JSPs are: First, you can use a single PC (or Stand-alone PC). Second, you can use a Local Area Network (or LAN). Third, you can use the Internet. When you use a single PC (or Stand-alone PC), you of course need to install all of the required software on that PC. That includes the Java SDK, the web server software, the servlet and JSP engine, and the database management system.

When you work on a LAN, you can use the same software components, but you divide them between client and server. To compile and run servlets on the server, the server requires the Java SDK, a combined web server and servlet and JSP engine like Tomcat, and a DBMS like MySQL. To compile servlets on a client, the client requires the Java SDK and the servlet.jar file, which contains all of the classes required for servlet development in a compressed format. This JAR file comes with Tomcat, but you can also download it for free from the Sun web site. When you run a web application on a LAN like this, it functions as an intranet.

When you work over the Internet, you use the same general components as you do when you work over an intranet. To improve performance, though, you normally have a separate web server like Apache in addition to a servlet and JSP engine like Tomcat. If necessary, you can also improve the performance of an intranet application by using Apache as the web server.

Since the SDK, Apache, Tomcat, and MySQL can be run by most operating systems, Java web developers aren’t tied to a specific operating system. In fact, the Windows operating system is commonly used for both the client and server computers during development. But when the applications are ready for use, they are often deployed on a UNIX or Solaris server.