Architecture Question: WCF service using Profile provider

[Steven Nagy]

Hi all,

I want to know if it is possible to have a WCF service hosted in IIS
(.svc) that uses the provider model in .Net?
Ideally, I'd like the WCF service methods to detect the user's AD user
name automatically (ie not passed as a parameter in the method) such
that it uses trusted authentication. The service then access profile
information via the profile provider.

In ASP.NET pages this is easy. You can simply do:
httpContext.Current.Profile
However httpContext is null in a WCF application so I can not access
it the same way.

Keep in mind this is a bit different to the SOA approach which is to
have profile provider talk to WCF instead WCF talking to the profile
provider. The actual underlying method that gets/sets profile
information should be irrelevant because that's the whole point of the
provider model.

I have no actual bug that needs fixing here. I just want to know if it
is possible to do the above, and how would I approach it.

I really appreciate any help you guys can give!

Cheers,
Steven Nagy

 

[Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]]

Steven,

You can access the HttpContext by enabling ASP compatability:

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-US/library/aa702682.aspx

Specifically, check the section titled "Hosting WCF Services in ASP.NET
Compatibility Mode"

 

[Steven Nagy]

Hi Nicholas,

This hit the nail on the head.
I have another Profile Provider question but I'll post to a new
thread.

Thanks heaps for your help. The article was the perfect solution.

Cheers,
Steven