Here are the key steps to configure Spring MVC in the lab:
1. Configure the ContextLoaderListener in web.xml to initialize the root application context. This loads the common beans.
2. Define the contextConfigLocation parameter pointing to the common spring configuration files.
3. Configure the DispatcherServlet in web.xml. This is the front controller that handles all web requests.
4. Give the DispatcherServlet a unique name and set its contextConfigLocation to load web-specific beans, separate from the root context.
5. Add spring-mvc configuration files defining the component-scan, view resolver, etc.
6. Add Controllers and Views (JSP