How to disable specific apps from starting during Tomcat startup?

Question

My company is preparing a new production box while the current one is running. I would like to proactively install applications in Tomcat container of the new production box

Answer 1

You can simply rename de WEB-INF directory inside the webapp that you don't want to auto-start to some other name like Disabled-WEB-INF, before starting tomcat.

Later on, if you wish to start that app, while tomcat is running, simply rename back the directory to WEB-INF.