JSP but no Servlet allowed - possible?

Hello,

I have a small shared hosting plan and I am able to run JSP pages without any problem.  I'd like to add some Java Servlets but I was told that this isn't possible on my share host for security reasons.

Am I missing something or aren't JSP pages 'compiled' to servlets themselves?  Does this possibly make sense.  Obviously I'm relatively new to JSP and Java servlets but this seems strange to me.

Is there anyway I could test this for myself on my accounts? (ie. test if servlets do infact work)

Note:  Apache tomcat 5.5 (I believe)

Aslo, one of the reasons I'm asking is becasue I'm not sure the support group was confident in their answer.  The security claim seemed to be a brush off as I told them I was just setting this up for testing purposes.


Thanks

M
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mac-willAsked:
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rrzConnect With a Mentor Commented:
>Is the statement that servlets pose a greater security risk than JSP pages valid?
Servlets(in anything less than Servlet 3.0 API) need to be mapped in your web app's web.xml file. If you don't have a private web app with a private web.xml file then it would not be possible to have private Servlets.  
I presume that coolhandle uses some sort of filter to keep you separate from other accounts. I guess that you browse with something like  ?
 http://www.coolhandle.com/yourAccountName/yourPage.jsp
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rawinnlnx9Commented:
Go here and read the second question about Java Servlet Technology: (How does the Java Server Page Technology Work)

Full Discussion:
http://java.sun.com/products/jsp/faq.html

JSP Compiled to Servlets:
http://java.sun.com/products/jsp/faq.html#2
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rawinnlnx9Commented:
These are the latest Oracle Web Servers that support servlets. I'm sure there are others as well.

http://java.sun.com/products/jsp/industry.html
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mac-willAuthor Commented:
Thank you.  However these resources are precisely why I am asking the question.

Since JSP pages are compiled to servlets why would servlets not be allowed?  Please read my full post for details.
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rrzCommented:
>I have a small shared hosting plan  
Where ?  
What are able to do there ? Can you upload war file for your web app ? Can you edit your web app's web.xml file ?
>I'd like to add some Java Servlets  
What function do you want them to have ? JSP can do  anything that regular Servlets can do.
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mac-willAuthor Commented:
Where?
On a paid server somewhere in the US.  It's a Linux server running Apache Tomcat.

What are able to do there ? Can you upload war file for your web app ? Can you edit your web app's web.xml file ?

I can ftp to the server transfer any file (including war files if needed).  I have access to an ssh jailshell.
I do not have access to the apache webapp folder directly.


I'm just experimenting with JSP and I'd like to test some of the MVC frameworks.
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rrzCommented:
>On a paid server somewhere in the US.  
Do they have a website that we could browse ?
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mac-willAuthor Commented:
Is this important to answer the question?

www.coolhandle.com
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rrzCommented:
>Is this important to answer the question?  
I just wanted to see your environment.
I think the problem is that you don't have your own Tomcat instance. Correct me if I am wrong. Can you start and stop Tomcat whenever you want ?  
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mac-willAuthor Commented:
no I can not.
So this kind of limits me in terms of a full MVC java app I guess?
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mac-willAuthor Commented:
I guess I was looking for some .htaccess redirect magic where I could set up a full java servlet app locally.  or something like this. (I've been experimenting with Perl Catlyst as well)
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rrzCommented:
>So this kind of limits me in terms of a full MVC java app I guess?  
Yes I think so.
Do you have your own web.xml for your own web app ?
Your web.xml file is where you would map your controller Servlet(for something like Struts or Spring).
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rrzCommented:
How much a month do you want to spend ?
For $20/month you can the basic plan at  something like  
http://rimuhosting.com
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mac-willAuthor Commented:
I don't think so but I may be looking in the wrong spot.

Where would this be located?
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mac-willAuthor Commented:
Ya, I'm thinking of moving to a VPS but right now this is for non work 'hobby' testing so I'll have to see.

Do you like that hosting provider?
The coolhandle one I'm using seems to have a better base VPS package.
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rrzCommented:
I do think RimuHosting is excellent. I used to have an account there.
Now, I have a free account at  Google App Engine.   I recommend  them too. The GAE runs Jetty. You can use Servlets with them. Give it a try, it is free for a starting account.  I am sure if there is a waiting period these days.
http://code.google.com/appengine/docs/whatisgoogleappengine.html 
http://code.google.com/appengine/
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rrzCommented:
I meant
I am not  sure if there is a waiting period these days.
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mac-willAuthor Commented:
So just to close up this question.  Is the statement that servlets pose a greater security risk than JSP pages valid?
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mac-willAuthor Commented:
Yes this is correct except the www.coolhandle.com/myaccount is mapped to www.mydomain.com

so I just go www.mydomain.com/mypage.jsp and this works fine.

Thanks for you help.

Cheers,

Mac
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