Is there an easy way to query a remote xml file by not using web services? (Windows and Unix)

[Dan V.]

Is there a way to query a remote xml file periodically by not using web
services? For Windows and Unix platforms. Is there a cheap software product
that I can install on each client and my Windows 2000 server and have
'secure' network access? I would love to use VS.NET to access both windows
and Unix/Linux xml files.

 

[John Timney \(Microsoft MVP\)]

Try talking telnet or ftp - or install mono on the linux server and use the
same webservices you have in .net

--
Regards

John Timney
Microsoft Regional Director
Microsoft MVP

 

[Punjab Peety]

Is there a way to query a remote xml file periodically by not using web
services? For Windows and Unix platforms. Is there a cheap software
product that I can install on each client and my Windows 2000 server and
have
'secure' network access? I would love to use VS.NET to access both
windows and Unix/Linux xml files.

1) why would you /not/ want to use web services?

2) when you say 'query' do you mean query the file as data ( say, using
XPath ) or query to see if the file has been updated or changed?

 

[Dan V.]

Because I heard that setting up web services on 60 remote clients (Windows,
Linux, Mac) is a lot of work/maintenance. If I change something, I have to
change it everywhere...

I would like a simple solution where I securely via encryption either: ftp
the xml file here every so often automatically, or I use SQL and just copy
over the newest records from the xml file to an xml file or access database
here to save bandwidth.

Ideally I install simple client software from a package to every client,
point to the xml file and schedule it to come here, or from our webserver,
schedule and get the data from our web server.

 

[John Timney \(Microsoft MVP\)]

You would only have on webservice, on a single web server. Your clients
would all point to that - so if you have to change it you change it once.
You dont put the actual service on the client, only the application that
consumes the service.

The design principal is that you dont change the method stubs in the
webservice, only the method contents - that way you dont invalidate the
methods your client is aware of.
--
Regards

John Timney
Microsoft Regional Director
Microsoft MVP

 

[Dan V.]

I have never used web services before so please bear with me.

I believe it is more secure if the client initiates contact with my web
server versus the web server initiating contact with the clients. Can I
have it both ways; using one web service only at the one central web server
and not at the clients, and then I have a choice. I really do need to get
the data automatically everyday and I think SSL over HTTP with them
initiating is the way to go as there will be no firewall problems and better
security. How can I do this? I have Visual Studio 2003 and Win 2000 and
IIS 5. The platforms are Windows, Linux, Mac and almost certainly .NET is
not installed on the Windows clients.

Thanks I appreciate your comment as I thought I needed web services at both
ends.

 

[John Timney \(Microsoft MVP\)]

Dan,

You need to do a little more reading on web services. Principally they are
based on a get request process over http, but if you want a two way process
you could resort to .NET remoting.

ideally - stick with your clients making requests to a central web service
and keep things easy for yourself - and buy a book on web services, it'll be
a worthwhile investment if your gonna be working with them.

--
Regards

John Timney
Microsoft Regional Director
Microsoft MVP