Tomcat error when installing from src

[jckdnk111]

I've installed everything I need and the code builds / deploys to tomcat with no problem.
After starting both the app and virtual containers I get nothing in a browser.
I see this error in my virtual container logs:

java.lang.ClassNotFoundException org.apache.catalina.storeconfig.StoreConfigLifecycleListener‍

This seems to be related to a config in the virtual container's server.xml:

<Listener className=" org.apache.catalina.storeconfig.StoreConfigLifecycleListener"/>‍

I'm no tomcat expert, but it looks like they've done away with this in tomcat 6 - all references to the above class are dealing with tomcat 5.x
I am following quickstart instructions for installing Alfresco from: http://wiki.alfresco.com/wiki/Alfresco_SVN_Development_Environment
I am on Debian Linux version 5.0 64 bit.

Here is an excerpt from my tomcat log: http://jckdnk.pastebin.com/f363191de

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[mrogers]

If by "virtual container" you means the WCM Virtual Server.    Then yes it is tied into Tomcat 5.5 and only runs on Tomcat 5.5.

[jckdnk111]

By virtual container I mean a totally separate tomcat instance identified in VIRTUAL_TOMCAT_HOME.
If Tomcat 5.5 is only supported, then why does the wiki page clearly state: Tomcat 6.x (supported version) and/or JBoss Portal 2.0
http://wiki.alfresco.com/wiki/Alfresco_SVN_Development_Environment

To be very honest I don't even know what this VIRTUAL_TOMCAT_HOME is used for - I'm just trying to evaluate alfresco before we purchase something.

[mrogers]

The Virtualisation Server is an obscure and soon to be deprecated part of Alfresco WCM.
http://wiki.alfresco.com/wiki/Virtualization_Server_FAQ.

The Wiki page you are looking at is correct that certain targets in the developer's build environment look for and expect Tomcat 6.

You can however deploy the alfresco.war and share.war files to other application servers, Tomcat 5.5 included.

[jckdnk111]

So I am now very confused 
I can't use the ant task to build / deploy without tomcat 6 but I can't actually use tomcat 6 because it is not supported, only tomcat 5.5?
Should I trade tomcat 6 for 5.5 in the case of the VIRTUAL_TOMCAT_HOME? Should I toss tomcat 6 altogether in favor of 5.5?
Should I simply not use VIRTUAL_TOMCAT_HOME?

Perhaps a nice hand-holding installer is best for a n00b such as myself.
Is there an installer for 64bit linux anywhere? I only saw the 32bit version.
Also, if we were to purchase the enterprise version of the application, would there be a 64bit installer for Linux?

[mrogers]

Forget the virtualisation server.    Ignore the fact that it exists.  
And stick with latest version of Tomcat 6.    And the latest JDK.

Maybe someone else can comment about the linux 64 bit installers vs 32 bit.

[bwagner]

I'm facing the same issue. If virtualization server is to ignore, what is the correct way to get a preview of web projects in Alfresco?

[zaizi]

The user will have to deploy his / her sand box to a staging / test server to preview their changes.