Best practices for deploying Java webapps with minimal downtime?

Question

When deploying a large Java webapp (>100 MB .war) I\'m currently use the following deployment process:

• The application .war file is expanded locally on the develop

Answer 1

Can't you make a local copy of the current web application on the web server, rsync to that directory and then perhaps even using symbolic links, in one "go", point Tomcat to a new deployment without much downtime?