We have discovered that under the conf/localhost and webapps directories, all of the release directories and xml files can be removed, leaving just the application(s) you want running. I could b wrong but I think this also closes some possible security issues, besides keeping a smart-cookie from playing with the examples ...
However I am totally unclear which (if any) java pieces need to be on a distribution machine. Obviously a source machine needs the Java JDK. On a distribution machine, apache compiles JSP code initially so it needs something.
One person told me the JRE should be enough, but another said that Apache/Tomcat actually comes with it's own compiler, and yet another says to have the JDK. On my Fedora-18 distribution (before I put in the JDK), there is at least one java compiler (/etc/alternatives/javac).
So do we need the JRE or the JDK or can Tomcat work without either on a non-sofware development box?