Tomcat Remote Debugging and Eclipse

People not using Eclipse WTP (poor fools) but using Eclipse, can take the following steps to enable Eclipse Debugging and Tomcat :

1. Add the following line to the catalina.bat/.sh file ():
   
   set JAVA_OPTS=%JAVA_OPTS% -Xdebug -Xnoagent -Djava.compiler=NONE -Xrunjdwp:transport=dt_socket,server=y,suspend=n,address=8000
   
   
• Xdebug : start the jvm and listen for debugging connections.
• Xrunjdwp... : the info on how to connect to do remote debugging.
• server=y : start in server mode (i.e. wait for connections, don't go out looking to connect.
• transport=dt_socked : use sockets to connect.
• address=8000 : the port to connect to.
• suspend=n : don't wait for a debugger to tell you what to do, go ahead and launch.
• Explanation of the options : http://java.sys-con.com/read/44918.htm
2. Start your Tomcat Server.
3. In Eclipse, choose Debug... Remote Java application (standard socket attach) localhost 8000.
   
   
   

Note : A very similar approach can be taken to enable 'real' remot debugging of a distant host (not localhost).