Deploying a JSP Web Application with Docker to DigitalOcean

This guide explains how to build a JSP web application, package it into a Docker image, push it to Docker Hub, and deploy it on a DigitalOcean server.

Note

If you are using an Apple Silicon Mac (M1/M2/M3), you must build a multi-platform Docker image (linux/amd64 and linux/arm64) so it can run on DigitalOcean (AMD64).

---

Step 1. Create the Dockerfile

Create a file named Dockerfile in the root directory of your project.

FROM tomcat:10.1-jdk21

# Remove default Tomcat applications
RUN rm -rf /usr/local/tomcat/webapps/*

# Copy WAR file into Tomcat
COPY target/sttpk2023-payroll.war /usr/local/tomcat/webapps/ROOT.war

EXPOSE 8080

CMD ["catalina.sh", "run"]

Your project structure should look like:

sttpk2023-payroll
│
├── Dockerfile
├── pom.xml
│
└── target
    └── sttpk2023-payroll.war

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Step 2. Build the WAR File

Compile the project using Maven.

mvn clean package

Verify the generated WAR file.

ls target

Expected output:

sttpk2023-payroll.war

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Step 3. Create a Docker Buildx Builder (One-Time Setup)

On macOS:

docker buildx create --name mybuilder --use

Verify:

docker buildx ls

Example:

NAME/NODE       DRIVER/ENDPOINT
mybuilder *     docker-container

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Step 4. Login to Docker Hub

docker login

Example:

Username: zhamri
Password: ********
Login Succeeded

---

Step 5. Build and Push the Docker Image

Since the project is built on Apple Silicon, build a multi-platform image.

docker buildx build \
    --platform linux/amd64,linux/arm64 \
    -t zhamri/sttpk2023-payroll:0.0.1 \
    --push .

This command:

• Builds the Docker image
• Creates both AMD64 and ARM64 versions
• Pushes the image directly to Docker Hub

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Step 6. Verify the Docker Image

docker buildx imagetools inspect zhamri/sttpk2023-payroll:0.0.1

Expected output:

Name: docker.io/zhamri/sttpk2023-payroll:0.0.1

Manifests

linux/amd64
linux/arm64

If both architectures appear, the image is ready for deployment.

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Step 7. Login to the DigitalOcean Server

ssh root@YOUR_SERVER_IP

Example:

ssh [email protected]

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Step 8. Pull the Docker Image

docker pull zhamri/sttpk2023-payroll:0.0.1

Verify:

docker images

Expected:

REPOSITORY                     TAG
zhamri/sttpk2023-payroll       0.0.1

---

Step 9. Run the Docker Container

docker run -d \
    --name payroll \
    --restart unless-stopped \
    -p 8080:8080 \
    zhamri/sttpk2023-payroll:0.0.1

Verify:

docker ps

Expected:

CONTAINER ID   IMAGE                               STATUS
abcd1234       zhamri/sttpk2023-payroll:0.0.1      Up 5 seconds

---

Step 10. Test the Application

Open:

http://YOUR_SERVER_IP:8080

Example:

http://159.xxx.xxx.xxx:8080

Your JSP application should appear.

---

Step 11. Using Docker Compose (Recommended)

Create docker-compose.yml.

services:

  payroll:

    image: zhamri/sttpk2023-payroll:0.0.1

    container_name: payroll

    restart: unless-stopped

    ports:
      - "8080:8080"

Start:

docker compose up -d

Stop:

docker compose down

---

Step 12. Configure Nginx Reverse Proxy

Create an Nginx configuration.

server {

    listen 80;

    server_name payroll.zhamri.com;

    location / {

        proxy_pass http://127.0.0.1:8080;

        proxy_set_header Host $host;
        proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Proto $scheme;

    }

}

Enable the configuration.

sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/payroll \
           /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/

Test:

sudo nginx -t

Reload Nginx.

sudo systemctl reload nginx

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Step 13. Enable HTTPS

sudo certbot --nginx -d payroll.zhamri.com

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Step 14. Deploy a New Version

Build and push version 0.0.2.

docker buildx build \
    --platform linux/amd64,linux/arm64 \
    -t zhamri/sttpk2023-payroll:0.0.2 \
    --push .

On DigitalOcean:

docker pull zhamri/sttpk2023-payroll:0.0.2

Stop the old container.

docker stop payroll

Remove it.

docker rm payroll

Run the new version.

docker run -d \
    --name payroll \
    --restart unless-stopped \
    -p 8080:8080 \
    zhamri/sttpk2023-payroll:0.0.2

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Useful Docker Commands

View Images

docker images

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View Running Containers

docker ps

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View All Containers

docker ps -a

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View Container Logs

docker logs payroll

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Follow Container Logs

docker logs -f payroll

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Stop a Container

docker stop payroll

---

Start a Container

docker start payroll

---

Restart a Container

docker restart payroll

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Remove a Container

docker rm payroll

---

Remove an Image

docker rmi zhamri/sttpk2023-payroll:0.0.1

---

Complete Workflow

JSP Project
      │
      ▼
mvn clean package
      │
      ▼
target/sttpk2023-payroll.war
      │
      ▼
docker buildx build
      │
      ▼
Docker Hub
      │
      ▼
DigitalOcean
      │
      ▼
docker pull
      │
      ▼
docker run
      │
      ▼
Nginx Reverse Proxy
      │
      ▼
HTTPS
      │
      ▼
https://payroll.zhamri.com

This deployment workflow supports both Apple Silicon (ARM64) and Intel/AMD64 Linux servers, making it suitable for local development and production deployment on DigitalOcean.