Caused by: org.apache.catalina.LifecycleException: Failed to start component [org.apache.catalina.authenticator.NonLoginAuthenticator

The error message you are encountering, Caused by: org.apache.catalina.LifecycleException: Failed to start component [org.apache.catalina.authenticator.NonLoginAuthenticator[/ims-backend]], indicates that the Apache Tomcat server is having trouble starting a specific component related to authentication. This issue typically arises from a few common causes:

Possible Causes and Solutions

1. Servlet API Compatibility Issues

The error java.lang.NoSuchMethodError: javax.servlet.ServletContext.getVirtualServerName() suggests that there is a mismatch between the version of the Servlet API expected by your application and the version provided by the Tomcat server. This can happen if:

• You are using a version of Tomcat that does not support the required Servlet API methods.
• Your application is compiled against a different version of the Servlet API than what is available at runtime.

Solution:

• Ensure that your pom.xml (if using Maven) specifies the correct version of the Servlet API that matches your Tomcat version. For example, if you are using Tomcat 9, you should be using the Servlet API 4.0.
• Update your Tomcat server to a version that supports the required methods.

2. Dependency Conflicts

Sometimes, conflicting libraries in your project can lead to runtime issues.

Solution:

• Check your pom.xml for any dependencies that might be pulling in an incompatible version of the Servlet API or other related libraries. Use the Maven dependency tree (mvn dependency:tree) to identify any conflicts.
• Exclude any transitive dependencies that might be causing issues.

3. Configuration Issues

Misconfiguration in your web.xml or context configuration files can also lead to startup failures.

Solution:

• Review your web.xml and any context configuration files (like context.xml) to ensure that all components are correctly defined and that there are no typos or misconfigurations.
• Ensure that the NonLoginAuthenticator is properly configured and that all required parameters are set.

4. Tomcat Logs

The Tomcat logs can provide more detailed information about what is going wrong during startup.

Solution:

• Check the catalina.out log file or any other relevant log files in the logs directory of your Tomcat installation for more specific error messages that might indicate the root cause of the problem.

Conclusion

To resolve the LifecycleException related to NonLoginAuthenticator, focus on ensuring compatibility between your application’s dependencies and the Tomcat server, review your configuration files for correctness, and consult the Tomcat logs for additional insights. If the problem persists after these checks, consider providing more context about your environment and configurations for further assistance.

Citations:
[1] https://stackoverflow.com/questions/43041695/failed-to-start-component-standardenginetomcat-standardhostlocalhost-tomcat
[2] https://groups.google.com/g/waffle-users/c/CrcV65DddSk
[3] https://github.com/codenvy/codenvy/issues/2624
[4] https://lists.apache.org/thread/6h587hyqmn3yfs1kwyox4w2xrkmrv9ok
[5] https://www.jianshu.com/p/a86d9e276da8
[6] https://coderanch.com/t/655534/application-servers/Tomcat-Failed-start-java-util
[7] https://groups.google.com/g/xnat_discussion/c/s87ML5pxZaw
[8] https://github.com/spring-projects/spring-boot/issues/9013
[9] https://crunchify.com/org-apache-catalina-lifecycleexception/
[10] https://backstage.forgerock.com/knowledge/kb/article/a22844550
[11] https://tomcat.apache.org/tomcat-8.0-doc/api/org/apache/catalina/authenticator/AuthenticatorBase.html
[12] https://github.com/spring-guides/gs-service-registration-and-discovery/issues/10
[13] https://github.com/thingsboard/thingsboard-gateway/issues/210
[14] https://support.tibco.com/s/article/HTTP-service-using-server-type-Tomcat-fails-to-start-when-REST-JSON-plug-in-is-installed
[15] https://coderanch.com/t/731557/frameworks/Tomcat-failed-start
[16] https://talk.openmrs.org/t/installing-openmrs-tomcat-failure-failed-to-start-component/39256