Question

The base URL for Tomcat WebVoyage defaults to a landing page/index page. How can this page be bypassed so that the base URL forwards users to the basic search page (e.g. */vwebv/searchBasic)?

Answer

The best way for forwarding users accessing the base url for Tomcat WebVoyage, to the basic search page, is to use mod_rewrite to redirect requests to the base URL to /vwebv/searchBasic.

As implementing this change requires modifying the Apache configuration files, access to root is required. Therefore, hosted customers, other customers without access to root as well as those uncomfortable with modifying Apache configuration files should contact support to request these changes:

1. Locate the Tomcat WebVoyage configuration file for the Voyager instance (e.g. /m1/shared/apache2/conf/ConfiguredVirtualHosts/xxxdb_vwebv_httpd.conf).
2. As the root user open the configuration file in a text editor.
3. Locate the following section:

<IfModule mod_rewirte.c>

RewriteEngine on

4. Immediately beneath the RewriteEnginedirective, add the following directive:

RewriteRule ^/$ /vwebv/searchBasic [R,L]

5. Restart Apache using: /etc/init.d/httpd2 stop and /etc/init.d/httpd2 start

Once Apache is restarted requests to the base URL for WebVoyage will be redirected to */vwebv/searchBasic.

Additional Information

Accessing the basic search page results in the occupation of one of a limited pool of available processes. Therefore, when the WebVoyage sessions times out, it is important that the URL configured in webvoyage.properties as the target for exit.do specify the landing page at index.html, or any other page not powered by tomcat, such as a library home page, rather than returning the user to the basic search page. Redirecting the user outside of WebVoyage prevents a session which has timed out from continuing to consume system resources.

• Article last edited: 03-Jun-2016