JIRA Fails to Start Due to 'NoClassDefFoundError - javax.servlet.ServletContextListener'
Platform Notice: Data Center Only - This article only applies to Atlassian products on the Data Center platform.
Note that this KB was created for the Data Center version of the product. Data Center KBs for non-Data-Center-specific features may also work for Server versions of the product, however they have not been tested. Support for Server* products ended on February 15th 2024. If you are running a Server product, you can visit the Atlassian Server end of support announcement to review your migration options.
*Except Fisheye and Crucible
Symptoms
Starting JIRA fails. The following appears in the atlassian-jira.log:
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2008-08-29 05:43:29,409 main ERROR [ContainerBase.[Catalina].[localhost].[/]] Error configuring application listener of class com.atlassian.jira.appconsistency.db.DatabaseCompatibilityEnforcer
java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: javax/servlet/ServletContextListener
at java.lang.ClassLoader.defineClass1(Native Method)
at java.lang.ClassLoader.defineClass(ClassLoader.java:620)
at java.security.SecureClassLoader.defineClass(SecureClassLoader.java:124)
at java.net.URLClassLoader.defineClass(URLClassLoader.java:260)
...
Caused by: java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: javax.servlet.ServletContextListener
...
...
2008-08-29 05:43:29,416 main ERROR [ContainerBase.[Catalina].[localhost].[/]] Error configuring application listener of class com.atlassian.jira.soap.axis.JiraAxisHttpListener
java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: org/apache/axis/transport/http/AxisHTTPSessionListener
at java.lang.ClassLoader.defineClass1(Native Method)
at java.lang.ClassLoader.defineClass(ClassLoader.java:620)
at java.security.SecureClassLoader.defineClass(SecureClassLoader.java:124)
at java.net.URLClassLoader.defineClass(URLClassLoader.java:260)
...
Caused by: java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: org.apache.axis.transport.http.AxisHTTPSessionListener
...
...
...
2008-08-29 05:43:29,417 main ERROR [ContainerBase.[Catalina].[localhost].[/]] Skipped installing application listeners due to previous error(s)
Aug 29, 2008 5:43:29 AM org.apache.catalina.core.StandardContext start
SEVERE: Error listenerStart
Cause
JIRA is started from the 'classes' directory and the classes required to start JIRA are not in it classpath.
Resolution
Do not start JIRA from 'atlassian-jira/WEB-INF/classes' directory.
Linux: Start JIRA from
<Install Directory>bin/startup.sh.Windows: Either navigate to the start menu shortcuts, start via
<Install Directory>bin\startup.bat, or manage the installed services and start the JIRA service.
ℹ️ For specific information see our installation guide.
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