need help finding apache struts jakarta ActionServlet

Question

We have taken over several Java 6 webservices using Tomcat 6, in production at a customer site, which we’re attempting to upgrade to Java 11 and Tomcat 10

This software currently includes a custom XxxxxxWebActionServlet class, which extends from an old version of org.apache.struts.action.ActionServlet – this old version of struts ActionServlet currently used in production, and our current production XxxxxxWebActionServlet, both import javax.servlet.* classes

For Java 11 we have upgraded our XxxxxxWebActionServlet to import jakarta.servlet.* classes

Our upgrade results in the run-time ClassCastException shown below (from Tomcat 10’s localhost.yyyy-mm-dd.log)

Our guess is that this ClassCastException occurs because our upgraded XxxxxxWebActionServlet, which now imports jakarta.servlet., continues to extend the same older version of struts ActionServlet which imports javax.servlet. classes

After much web searching, we can’t seem to find a version of org.apache.struts.action.ActionServlet which imports jakarta.servlet.*

The last version of org.apache.struts.action.ActionServlet that we can find (in https://archive.apache.org/dist/struts/1.3.10) imports javax.servlet.* - ActionFormValidationInterceptor.java in struts-2.3.20.1 imports (but does not seem to use) org.apache.struts.action.ActionServlet, but ActionServlet.java itself does not seem to be present within struts-2.3.20.1/src

#1) Would a version of org.apache.struts.action.ActionServlet which imports jakarta.servlet.* exist somewhere else ?

#2) If not, we’d be very appreciative of any suggestions for how to circumvent this ClassCastException

Thanks very much in advance

22-Jun-2022 11:29:26.084 INFO [main] org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationContext.log Marking servlet [action] as unavailable 22-Jun-2022 11:29:26.084 SEVERE [main] org.apache.catalina.core.StandardContext.loadOnStartup Servlet [action] in web application [/xxware] threw load() exception java.lang.ClassCastException: class com.xxxxxx.ui.web.jspframework.XxxxxxWebActionServlet cannot be cast to class jakarta.servlet.Servlet (com.xxxxxx.ui.web.jspframework.XxxxxxWebActionServlet is in unnamed module of loader org.apache.catalina.loader.ParallelWebappClassLoader @3ce3b176; jakarta.servlet.Servlet is in unnamed module of loader java.net.URLClassLoader @6ddf90b0) at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardWrapper.loadServlet(StandardWrapper.java:1071) at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardWrapper.load(StandardWrapper.java:1011) at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardContext.loadOnStartup(StandardContext.java:4906) at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardContext.startInternal(StandardContext.java:5213) at org.apache.catalina.util.LifecycleBase.start(LifecycleBase.java:183) at org.apache.catalina.core.ContainerBase.addChildInternal(ContainerBase.java:726) at org.apache.catalina.core.ContainerBase.addChild(ContainerBase.java:698) at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardHost.addChild(StandardHost.java:747) at org.apache.catalina.startup.HostConfig.deployWAR(HostConfig.java:1027) at org.apache.catalina.startup.HostConfig$DeployWar.run(HostConfig.java:2001) at java.base/java.util.concurrent.Executors$RunnableAdapter.call(Executors.java:515) at java.base/java.util.concurrent.FutureTask.run(FutureTask.java:264) at org.apache.tomcat.util.threads.InlineExecutorService.execute(InlineExecutorService.java:75) at java.base/java.util.concurrent.AbstractExecutorService.submit(AbstractExecutorService.java:118) at org.apache.catalina.startup.HostConfig.deployWARs(HostConfig.java:828) at org.apache.catalina.startup.HostConfig.deployApps(HostConfig.java:478) at org.apache.catalina.startup.HostConfig.start(HostConfig.java:1708) at org.apache.catalina.startup.HostConfig.lifecycleEvent(HostConfig.java:320) at org.apache.catalina.util.LifecycleBase.fireLifecycleEvent(LifecycleBase.java:123) at org.apache.catalina.util.LifecycleBase.setStateInternal(LifecycleBase.java:423) at org.apache.catalina.util.LifecycleBase.setState(LifecycleBase.java:366) at org.apache.catalina.core.ContainerBase.startInternal(ContainerBase.java:946) at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardHost.startInternal(StandardHost.java:886) at org.apache.catalina.util.LifecycleBase.start(LifecycleBase.java:183) at org.apache.catalina.core.ContainerBase$StartChild.call(ContainerBase.java:1396) at org.apache.catalina.core.ContainerBase$StartChild.call(ContainerBase.java:1386) at java.base/java.util.concurrent.FutureTask.run(FutureTask.java:264) at org.apache.tomcat.util.threads.InlineExecutorService.execute(InlineExecutorService.java:75) at java.base/java.util.concurrent.AbstractExecutorService.submit(AbstractExecutorService.java:140) at org.apache.catalina.core.ContainerBase.startInternal(ContainerBase.java:919) at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardEngine.startInternal(StandardEngine.java:263) at org.apache.catalina.util.LifecycleBase.start(LifecycleBase.java:183) at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardService.startInternal(StandardService.java:432) at org.apache.catalina.util.LifecycleBase.start(LifecycleBase.java:183) at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardServer.startInternal(StandardServer.java:927) at org.apache.catalina.util.LifecycleBase.start(LifecycleBase.java:183) at org.apache.catalina.startup.Catalina.start(Catalina.java:795) at java.base/jdk.internal.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke0(Native Method) at java.base/jdk.internal.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(NativeMethodAccessorImpl.java:62) at java.base/jdk.internal.reflect.DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.java:43) at java.base/java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:566) at org.apache.catalina.startup.Bootstrap.start(Bootstrap.java:345) at org.apache.catalina.startup.Bootstrap.main(Bootstrap.java:476)

Answer 1

I'm currently working to upgrade struts1 (currently JakartaEE 8) and I think I'll reach JakartaEE 9-compatility next week (till 25. Nov. 2022).

In meantime take a look at my struts1-github-project to follow the progress: Weblegacy/Struts1

Greetings Stefan

Answer 2

If you're still on struts 1.x, split your upgrade into multiple steps:

• Upgrade to a currently supported version of Tomcat
• Upgrade your Struts code to a currently supported version (or framework)

There's no need to go to Tomcat 10 and the jakarta.servlet-world. Simply upgrade to Tomcat 9. Struts 1.x is from a time that jakarta.servlet was unheard of. So you won't find them together.

When you get your current code running on Tomcat 9, examine Struts' applicability and supported versions - consider upgrading (or consider picking a different framework). You can go live with your updated version long before that (e.g. just when everything works on Tomcat 9)