[AccessD] Is this possible (X-posted)

Shamil Salakhetdinov shamil at users.mns.ru
Mon Dec 12 16:07:34 CST 2005


Jim,

https from Server to Client PC will not work as far as I understand - to
have http or https working your client PCs have to have Web Server running.
Maybe there are other ways to support http protocol - I don't know about
them.

The best candidate IMO looks like TCP/IP Sockets and Windows
Socket2(http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/win
sock/winsock/windows_sockets_start_page_2.asp) - but in this case your
client PCs have to have a static IP address. Or on connection your web
server application will get client PCs dynamic IP addresses and then these
IP addresses can be used by your server application "talking back" to the
clients' SQL Servers via TCP/IP Sockets and Windows Socket 2?

<<<
Is there some other way to connect to data directly via web service that I'm
missing?
>>>
As far as I understood your Data Entry Forms will be generated by your Web
application running on server's  web server. Will that be ASP or ASP.NET or
another type of web server  application? If that will be ASP.NET application
then DAL objects can directly talk to your client databases provided
connection mentioned above is established. There is no any need in Web
Services if only you do not plan to have Web Services running separately
from your Web Application used for other purposes.

There are also firewall issues to solve - keep opened TCP/IP port 1433 used
by MS SQL...

Another candidate is .NET
Remoting(http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/cp
guide/html/cpconnetremotingarchitecture.asp) - it can be used over TCP/IP or
whatever else network protocol - I have to read more about it - I must
say I have never deployed .NET Remoting based distributed
applications - but it looks like this is relatively easy to do
http://www.codeproject.com/csharp/RemotingChatSample.asp....

Shamil

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim DeMarco" <Jdemarco at hudsonhealthplan.org>
To: "Access Developers discussion and problem solving"
<accessd at databaseadvisors.com>
Sent: Monday, December 12, 2005 11:46 PM
Subject: Re: [AccessD] Is this possible (X-posted)


> I was under the impression that if using web services TCP/IP was the de
facto transport mechanism.  Is this not so?  Is the link you posted saying
all of those protocols are possibilities?  Should I be looking at something
besides TCP/IP?  This needs to be a secure connection probably via https
using my current line of thinking.
>
> >> will you decide to use
> >> Web Services to connect to the client databases or will you decide use
Data
> >> Access Layer classes' instances of your ASP.NET application
> I thought the data access layer classes would be a part of any web
services.  Is there some other way to connect to data directly via web
service that I'm missing?
>
> >> what network protocols and IPC APIs should be better selected for your
architecture
> The log on would have to be a pass-through of some sort so we cannot be in
a postion to grab IDs and passwords.  In my current architecture since we're
hosting the log on page we'd theoretically have access to this info although
we should not.
>
> Jim D.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
> [mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com]On Behalf Of Shamil
> Salakhetdinov
> Sent: Monday, December 12, 2005 2:58 PM
> To: Access Developers discussion and problem solving
> Subject: Re: [AccessD] Is this possible (X-posted)
>
>
> Jim,
>
> How do you plan to connect to the client MS SQL Server instances from your
> Web Server application/Web Services?
>
> You say you will know client SQL Server connection string when user will
> specify ID but what network protocol etc. do you plan to use?
>
> Have a look here -
>
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/architec/8_ar_cs_3flf.asp -
> there are several options to implement network connections to the client
MS
> SQL Server instances from your Web Server application/Web Services/MS SQL
> Server. (BTW, in such scenario client MS SQL Server instances should be
> called 'servers' or they could be 'linked MS SQL Servers' if you will also
> have MS SQL Server instance runnng on your Web Server).
>
> When the question with network connection to the client MS SQL Servers is
> clear and such connection is functioning well then will you decide to use
> Web Services to connect to the client databases or will you decide use
Data
> Access Layer classes' instances of your ASP.NET application(s) - both
cases
> will be a possible...
>
> <<<
>  I think I see a problem with this as we'd have access to each users
> password via the log on.  What do you think?
> >>>
> I'm not computer networks and data access security specialist - what
network
> protocols and IPC APIs should be better selected for your architecture -
> somebody more knowledgeable in this area from this list would better
> recommend - anybody?
>
> Shamil
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Jim DeMarco" <Jdemarco at hudsonhealthplan.org>
> To: "Access Developers discussion and problem solving"
> <accessd at databaseadvisors.com>
> Sent: Monday, December 12, 2005 9:18 PM
> Subject: Re: [AccessD] Is this possible (X-posted)
>
>
> > Shamil,
> >
> > First I'll try to clarify my intent then I'll answer your questions
> directly.
> >
> > I'm trying to eliminate the need for a desktop application for the data
> transfer process and file schema creation process.  I'd like users to log
on
> to our portal.  We store a database that contains the connect string for
> their server database (on their server).  When a user logs on we check the
> organization ID which links to the correct connect string.  We then use
that
> string to validate the user at their own SQL database (via Web Service).
I
> think I see a problem with this as we'd have access to each users password
> via the log on.  What do you think?
> >
> > Then I'd like to create some data access screens on our portal but the
> data displayed would come from their SQL databases (accessed via Web
> Service).
> >
> > >> local PC will have Web Server
> > We prefer not to do this.  Why not a Winforms app if this is the case?
> I'd still have to provide updates to the client app which I'm trying to
> avoid.
> >
> > >>you wanted your users to connect to the Web
> > >> Server, pass their ID and then Web Server's application use data
entry
> forms
> > >>generated on Web Server to access user's local data via user's local
Web
> > >> Server's Web Services
> > No (or sort of).  Data entry forms are on our portal but linked (or
> pointing to) their SQL server database (not local),  Web services are
hosted
> here as well.
> >
> > You raise an interesting point however.  My first go at designing this
> platform was to let each agency host the web services. Then all we have to
> do is point at the web service to get data.  Does that make more sense?
> >
> > I'm trying to take the path of least resistance when it comes to
> deployment and maintenance which is why I'd like to host the UI and web
> services if possible.  I'd really like one set of web-based UI tools but
the
> ability to connect to many datasources  (which are identical as it's the
BE
> to our app).
> >
> > Please let me know if I've made mud from mud.
> >
> > Jim D.
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
> > [mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com]On Behalf Of Shamil
> > Salakhetdinov
> > Sent: Monday, December 12, 2005 12:10 PM
> > To: Access Developers discussion and problem solving
> > Subject: Re: [AccessD] Is this possible (X-posted)
> >
> >
> > <<<
> > The question is: Can I do this via web services?
> > >>>
> > No.
> > And yes - I mean if you local PC will have Web Server with exposed to
the
> > Outer World Web Services then these Web Services can communicate with
> > central web server's Web Services. But such system architecture would
look
> > weird to say the least...
> >
> > <<<
> > That done, can I then create data entry forms against their local copy
of
> > the apps database?
> > >>>
> > You can export/import data using Web Services - that's clear.
> >
> > The rest sounds unclear - you wanted your users to connect to the Web
> > Server, pass their ID and then Web Server's application use data entry
> forms
> > generated on Web Server to access user's local data via user's local Web
> > Server's Web Services?
> >
> > Looks confusing but probably doable.
> >
> > Why not have data entry forms running in local application and use data
> > export/import via Web Services?
> >
> > Do you mean you wanted to have one Web Server with WebServices and one
> > ASP.NET application running on your server, and connecting to the local
> PCs'
> > database via "something like Web Services"?
> >
> > Shamil
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > From: "Jim DeMarco" <Jdemarco at hudsonhealthplan.org>
> > To: "VB List (E-mail)" <dba-VB at databaseadvisors.com>; "AccessD (E-mail)"
> > <AccessD at databaseadvisors.com>
> > Sent: Monday, December 12, 2005 7:08 PM
> > Subject: [AccessD] Is this possible (X-posted)
> >
> >
> > > dba-VB
> > > AccessD
> > >
> > > List,
> > >
> > > We have a VB/SQL app that we are actively marketing to other health
> plans
> > and county social service agencies that handles enrollments into
Medicaid
> > and other government funded health programs.  I have a need to transmit
> the
> > apps data electronically from a health plan to a county agency.  Yes we
> can
> > simply FTP a file and let an agency pull the data down but it's not
quite
> > that simple.  Different agencies have different needs for the data (some
> > have IT resources, some don't, some need data input to send data back to
> > plan some don't).
> > >
> > > My vision is a web portal where the county can define what data the
plan
> > should send them and define a file of what data they'll send back to the
> > plan. My app should read the file and generate the appropriate export
file
> > and import data correctly based on the county's export (if any).
> > >
> > > Using .NET technologies I'd like the portal to also have the ability
to
> > connect to the local copy of my app's database for authentication and
data
> > access.  The question is: Can I do this via web services?  Can a user
log
> on
> > to my portal passing me a site ID so I know where their local database
> > resides for authentication?  That done, can I then create data entry
forms
> > against their local copy of the apps database?
> > >
> > > We'd rather not host all data here (competing plans may use the app
and
> > probably wouldn't care for that arrangement!)
> > >
> > > Hopefully this isn't too confusing and someone can enlighten me.
> > >
> > > TIA,
> > >
> > > Jim DeMarco
> > > Director of Application Development
> > > Hudson Health Plan
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
>
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is
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****************************************************************************
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> "This electronic message is intended to be for the use only of the named
recipient, and may contain information from Hudson Health Plan (HHP) that is
confidential or privileged.  If you are not the intended recipient, you are
hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or use of the
contents of this message is strictly prohibited.  If you have received this
message in error or are not the named recipient, please notify us
immediately, either by contacting the sender at the electronic mail address
noted above or calling HHP at (914) 631-1611. If you are not the intended
recipient, please do not forward this email to anyone, and delete and
destroy all copies of this message.  Thank You".
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