java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: javax.servlet.ServletContainerInitializer

Question

I was working on writing some servlets and they all worked fine Tomcat had no issue running what so ever. Then I wrote a class file that used JERSEY and when I tried to run it Tomcat wouldn't start. I have the Web development tools plug in installed in Eclipse, everytime I hit compile I get

java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: javax.servlet.ServletContainerInitializer

Here is the output from the console

May 08, 2012 4:51:36 PM org.apache.catalina.core.AprLifecycleListener init
INFO: The APR based Apache Tomcat Native library which allows optimal performance in production environments was not found on the java.library.path: C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre7\bin;C:\Windows\Sun\Java\bin;C:\Windows\system32;C:\Windows;C:/Program Files (x86)/Java/jre7/bin/client;C:/Program Files (x86)/Java/jre7/bin;C:/Program Files (x86)/Java/jre7/lib/i386;C:\Windows\system32;C:\Windows;C:\Windows\System32\Wbem;C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\;C:\Program Files (x86)\QuickTime\QTSystem\;C:\Program Files\TortoiseSVN\bin;c:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\90\Tools\bin\;C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\Common7\IDE;C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC\BIN;C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\Common7\Tools;C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v3.5;C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727;C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC\VCPackages;C:\Python27\Scripts;C:\Program Files (x86)\SSH Communications Security\SSH Tectia\SSH Tectia AUX;C:\Program Files (x86)\SSH Communications Security\SSH Tectia\SSH Tectia AUX\Support binaries;C:\Program Files (x86)\SSH Communications Security\SSH Tectia\SSH Tectia Broker;C:\Program Files (x86)\SSH Communications Security\SSH Tectia\SSH Tectia Client;C:\Program Files\CREDANT\Shield v7.1\;C:\Development Tools\java\eclipse;;.
May 08, 2012 4:51:36 PM org.apache.tomcat.util.digester.SetPropertiesRule begin
WARNING: [SetPropertiesRule]{Server/Service/Engine/Host/Context} Setting property 'source' to 'org.eclipse.jst.jee.server:Test_Server' did not find a matching property.
May 08, 2012 4:51:37 PM org.apache.coyote.AbstractProtocol init
INFO: Initializing ProtocolHandler ["http-bio-80"]
May 08, 2012 4:51:37 PM org.apache.coyote.AbstractProtocol init
INFO: Initializing ProtocolHandler ["ajp-bio-8009"]
May 08, 2012 4:51:37 PM org.apache.catalina.startup.Catalina load
INFO: Initialization processed in 546 ms
May 08, 2012 4:51:37 PM org.apache.catalina.core.StandardService startInternal
INFO: Starting service Catalina
May 08, 2012 4:51:37 PM org.apache.catalina.core.StandardEngine startInternal
INFO: Starting Servlet Engine: Apache Tomcat/7.0.27
May 08, 2012 4:51:37 PM org.apache.catalina.core.ContainerBase startInternal
SEVERE: A child container failed during start
java.util.concurrent.ExecutionException: org.apache.catalina.LifecycleException: Failed to start component [StandardEngine[Catalina].StandardHost[localhost].StandardContext[/Test_Server]]
    at java.util.concurrent.FutureTask$Sync.innerGet(Unknown Source)
    at java.util.concurrent.FutureTask.get(Unknown Source)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.ContainerBase.startInternal(ContainerBase.java:1128)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardHost.startInternal(StandardHost.java:782)
    at org.apache.catalina.util.LifecycleBase.start(LifecycleBase.java:150)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.ContainerBase$StartChild.call(ContainerBase.java:1566)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.ContainerBase$StartChild.call(ContainerBase.java:1556)
    at java.util.concurrent.FutureTask$Sync.innerRun(Unknown Source)
    at java.util.concurrent.FutureTask.run(Unknown Source)
    at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor.runWorker(Unknown Source)
    at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor$Worker.run(Unknown Source)
    at java.lang.Thread.run(Unknown Source)
Caused by: org.apache.catalina.LifecycleException: Failed to start component [StandardEngine[Catalina].StandardHost[localhost].StandardContext[/Test_Server]]
    at org.apache.catalina.util.LifecycleBase.start(LifecycleBase.java:154)
    ... 7 more
Caused by: java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: javax/servlet/ServletContainerInitializer
    at java.lang.ClassLoader.defineClass1(Native Method)
    at java.lang.ClassLoader.defineClass(Unknown Source)
    at java.security.SecureClassLoader.defineClass(Unknown Source)
    at java.net.URLClassLoader.defineClass(Unknown Source)
    at java.net.URLClassLoader.access$100(Unknown Source)
    at java.net.URLClassLoader$1.run(Unknown Source)
    at java.net.URLClassLoader$1.run(Unknown Source)
    at java.security.AccessController.doPrivileged(Native Method)
    at java.net.URLClassLoader.findClass(Unknown Source)
    at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadClass(Unknown Source)
    at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadClass(Unknown Source)
    at sun.misc.Launcher$AppClassLoader.loadClass(Unknown Source)
    at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadClass(Unknown Source)
    at org.apache.catalina.loader.WebappClassLoader.loadClass(WebappClassLoader.java:1626)
    at org.apache.catalina.loader.WebappClassLoader.loadClass(WebappClassLoader.java:1556)
    at java.lang.Class.forName0(Native Method)
    at java.lang.Class.forName(Unknown Source)
    at org.apache.catalina.startup.ContextConfig.getServletContainerInitializer(ContextConfig.java:1601)
    at org.apache.catalina.startup.ContextConfig.processServletContainerInitializers(ContextConfig.java:1519)
    at org.apache.catalina.startup.ContextConfig.webConfig(ContextConfig.java:1222)
    at org.apache.catalina.startup.ContextConfig.configureStart(ContextConfig.java:855)
    at org.apache.catalina.startup.ContextConfig.lifecycleEvent(ContextConfig.java:345)
    at org.apache.catalina.util.LifecycleSupport.fireLifecycleEvent(LifecycleSupport.java:119)
    at org.apache.catalina.util.LifecycleBase.fireLifecycleEvent(LifecycleBase.java:90)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardContext.startInternal(StandardContext.java:5161)
    at org.apache.catalina.util.LifecycleBase.start(LifecycleBase.java:150)
    ... 7 more
Caused by: java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: javax.servlet.ServletContainerInitializer
    at java.net.URLClassLoader$1.run(Unknown Source)
    at java.net.URLClassLoader$1.run(Unknown Source)
    at java.security.AccessController.doPrivileged(Native Method)
    at java.net.URLClassLoader.findClass(Unknown Source)
    at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadClass(Unknown Source)
    at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadClass(Unknown Source)
    ... 33 more

May 08, 2012 4:51:37 PM org.apache.catalina.core.ContainerBase startInternal
SEVERE: A child container failed during start
java.util.concurrent.ExecutionException: org.apache.catalina.LifecycleException: Failed to start component [StandardEngine[Catalina].StandardHost[localhost]]
    at java.util.concurrent.FutureTask$Sync.innerGet(Unknown Source)
    at java.util.concurrent.FutureTask.get(Unknown Source)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.ContainerBase.startInternal(ContainerBase.java:1128)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardEngine.startInternal(StandardEngine.java:302)
    at org.apache.catalina.util.LifecycleBase.start(LifecycleBase.java:150)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardService.startInternal(StandardService.java:443)
    at org.apache.catalina.util.LifecycleBase.start(LifecycleBase.java:150)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardServer.startInternal(StandardServer.java:732)
    at org.apache.catalina.util.LifecycleBase.start(LifecycleBase.java:150)
    at org.apache.catalina.startup.Catalina.start(Catalina.java:675)
    at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke0(Native Method)
    at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(Unknown Source)
    at sun.reflect.DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(Unknown Source)
    at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Unknown Source)
    at org.apache.catalina.startup.Bootstrap.start(Bootstrap.java:322)
    at org.apache.catalina.startup.Bootstrap.main(Bootstrap.java:450)
Caused by: org.apache.catalina.LifecycleException: Failed to start component [StandardEngine[Catalina].StandardHost[localhost]]
    at org.apache.catalina.util.LifecycleBase.start(LifecycleBase.java:154)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.ContainerBase$StartChild.call(ContainerBase.java:1566)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.ContainerBase$StartChild.call(ContainerBase.java:1556)
    at java.util.concurrent.FutureTask$Sync.innerRun(Unknown Source)
    at java.util.concurrent.FutureTask.run(Unknown Source)
    at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor.runWorker(Unknown Source)
    at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor$Worker.run(Unknown Source)
    at java.lang.Thread.run(Unknown Source)
Caused by: org.apache.catalina.LifecycleException: A child container failed during start
    at org.apache.catalina.core.ContainerBase.startInternal(ContainerBase.java:1136)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardHost.startInternal(StandardHost.java:782)
    at org.apache.catalina.util.LifecycleBase.start(LifecycleBase.java:150)
    ... 7 more

May 08, 2012 4:51:37 PM org.apache.catalina.startup.Catalina start
SEVERE: Catalina.start: 
org.apache.catalina.LifecycleException: Failed to start component [StandardServer[8005]]
    at org.apache.catalina.util.LifecycleBase.start(LifecycleBase.java:154)
    at org.apache.catalina.startup.Catalina.start(Catalina.java:675)
    at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke0(Native Method)
    at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(Unknown Source)
    at sun.reflect.DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(Unknown Source)
    at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Unknown Source)
    at org.apache.catalina.startup.Bootstrap.start(Bootstrap.java:322)
    at org.apache.catalina.startup.Bootstrap.main(Bootstrap.java:450)
Caused by: org.apache.catalina.LifecycleException: Failed to start component [StandardService[Catalina]]
    at org.apache.catalina.util.LifecycleBase.start(LifecycleBase.java:154)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardServer.startInternal(StandardServer.java:732)
    at org.apache.catalina.util.LifecycleBase.start(LifecycleBase.java:150)
    ... 7 more
Caused by: org.apache.catalina.LifecycleException: Failed to start component [StandardEngine[Catalina]]
    at org.apache.catalina.util.LifecycleBase.start(LifecycleBase.java:154)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardService.startInternal(StandardService.java:443)
    at org.apache.catalina.util.LifecycleBase.start(LifecycleBase.java:150)
    ... 9 more
Caused by: org.apache.catalina.LifecycleException: A child container failed during start
    at org.apache.catalina.core.ContainerBase.startInternal(ContainerBase.java:1136)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardEngine.startInternal(StandardEngine.java:302)
    at org.apache.catalina.util.LifecycleBase.start(LifecycleBase.java:150)
    ... 11 more

May 08, 2012 4:51:37 PM org.apache.catalina.startup.Catalina start
INFO: Server startup in 416 ms

How is this caused and how can I solve it?

tomcat version 7.0.27 , and the web xml servlet version = 3.0 — cyberbemon, May 08 '12 at 16:17
Maybe you have a servlet jar less than 3.0 also on the classpath? — Jeremy, May 08 '12 at 16:23
First check your Eclipse build path. If you're using Maven you can take a look at the dependency tree in the POM viewer. If you're using Ant you should know where your dependencies are. To be honest, my question was a stab in the dark, but it is something I would try to remove from the realm of possibility early on. — Jeremy, May 08 '12 at 16:28
I'm not using Maven or Ant , just Eclipse with the WTP plugin. I checked the Build Path , not sure what exactly I'm supposed to look for. — cyberbemon, May 08 '12 at 16:39

score 11 · Accepted Answer · answered May 09 '12 at 03:53

11

javax/servlet/ServletContainerInitializer is a class in Servlet 3.0 which is not support in Tomcat 6.

You probably have servlet.jar floating around somewhere in your CLASSPATH, it shouldn't be. This really messes up the classloaders since Tomcat's classloaders don't act quite as normal as one expects (see links above). servlet.jar should only be found only once in $CATALINA_HOME/lib.

answered May 09 '12 at 03:53

Hardik Mishra

14,779
9
61
96

I'm using tomcat 7.027 and there is only one `servlet-api.jar` file in the `/lib` folder. I reinstalled everything jre,tomcat,eclipse That seems to have fixed the problem for now ! – cyberbemon May 09 '12 at 09:15

score 5 · Answer 2 · answered Nov 20 '12 at 19:59

Sometimes if you are running a Tomcat server in Eclipse, the local Tomcat working directory can get jacked up and you have to clear it explicitly. Note that this is NOT the same as doing a Clean build on the project: From the Servers window: Right click on the server you are trying to start->Clean Tomcat work Directory...->OK

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Mar 15 '13 at 05:20

0

simple right click on tomcat server then clean the tomcat work directory then clean the tomcat. it will work.

answered Mar 15 '13 at 05:20

Himanshu

378
8
27

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Oct 31 '13 at 17:37

0

I got the same issue today. Eventually it turned out to be that a user library became empty. However the error message shown did not give any hints about that.

answered Oct 31 '13 at 17:37

user2942470

11

score 0 · Answer 5 · answered Sep 19 '14 at 15:07

A late answer but this may help someone.

I believe this happens because the Jersey was created using a newer java version and you're trying to run it in an older version of java. Either update your java version or download an older version of Jersey that supports your java version.

Window -> Preferences -> Java -> Compiler -> set "Compiler compliance level" to 1.7.

From Jersey documentation:

Until version 2.6, Jersey was compiled with Java SE 6. This has changes in Jersey 2.7. 
Now almost all Jersey components are compiled with Java SE 7 target. It means, that 
you will need at least Java SE 7 to be able to compile and run your application 
that is using latest Jersey. Only core-common and core-client modules are still 
compiled with Java class version runnable with Java SE 6.

java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: javax.servlet.ServletContainerInitializer

5 Answers5

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