9.2 A Remotable Object

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This chapter discusses two methods of hosting remote objects. The first method is Windows Services , which are background processes that lack a user interface. They are started either manually or automatically when Windows first loads. They are ideal for hosting remote objects because they do not interfere with other users on the machine. All interaction with services is done through the Service Control Manager (SCM), as shown in Figure 9-1. This program is run from the Administrative Tools directory in the Control Panel and is simply called "Services." Typically, Windows Services can be started, stopped , and paused from within the SCM. When these actions occur, a corresponding method within the service is called, allowing reciprocating action to occur.

Figure 9-1. Service Control Manager

The second method involves the use of an Internet Information Server (IIS) to host remotable objects. The advantages of this method are that no code is required and it only takes a few moments to configure. However, the configuration options are limited, compared to what can be done with a Windows Service, and the only available channel is HttpChannel . Windows Services can also use TcpChannel , which is considerably faster.

A remotable object is an essential ingredient for hosting a remote object. Example 9-1 contains a remotable version of the ServerInfo class from Chapter 7 (minus a few superfluous methods). The class provides rudimentary information regarding a machine, such as IP address and processor utilization. It is used to demonstrate various remoting concepts in this chapter. Compile it to an assembly called ServerInfo.dll , which will be used throughout the chapter (but be ready to modify it at a moment's notice).

Example 9-1. Remotable ServerInfo class

 'vbc /t:library /r:System.dll serverinfo.vb     Imports System Imports System.Diagnostics Imports System.Net Imports System.Threading     Namespace ObjectServerSpace     Public Class ServerInfo :  Inherits MarshalByRefObject  Private machine As String     Private ip As IPAddress     Private Shared calls As Integer         Public Sub New( )       'Get machine info when object is created       machine = Dns.GetHostName( )       Dim ipHost As IPHostEntry = Dns.GetHostByName(machine)       ip = ipHost.AddressList(0)       calls = 0     End Sub         'Shared method     Public Function GetMachineTime( ) As DateTime       calls += 1       Return DateTime.Now     End Function         'Get % of process currently in use     Public Function GetProcessorUsed( ) As Single       calls += 1       If PerformanceCounterCategory.Exists("Processor") Then         Dim pc As New PerformanceCounter("Processor", _             "% Processor Time", "_Total", True)         Dim sampleA As CounterSample         Dim sampleB As CounterSample             sampleA = pc.NextSample( )         Thread.Sleep(1000)         sampleB = pc.NextSample( )         Return CounterSample.Calculate(sampleA, sampleB)       End If     End Function         'Get MBytes of free memory     Public Function GetAvailableMemory( ) As Long       calls += 1       If PerformanceCounterCategory.Exists("Memory") Then         Dim pc As New PerformanceCounter("Memory", "Available MBytes")         Return pc.RawValue( )       End If       Return 0     End Function         Public ReadOnly Property MachineName( ) As String       Get         calls += 1         Return machine       End Get     End Property         Public ReadOnly Property IPAddress( ) As IPAddress       Get         calls += 1         Return ip       End Get     End Property         Public ReadOnly Property CallCount( ) As Integer       Get         Return calls       End Get     End Property       End Class     End Namespace 

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