.Net Remoting Architecture
The .NET Remoting framework plays a crucial role in enabling inter-process communication between Application Domains through its robust Remoting Framework. This powerful framework facilitates communication between applications residing on various environments, including the same computer, different computers within a local network, or even across separate networks.
.NET Remoting
With its support for distributed object communications, .NET Remoting allows seamless interaction over TCP and HTTP channels. This ensures that applications can effectively exchange data and messages while maintaining compatibility and interoperability. The framework achieves this by utilizing Binary or SOAP formatters to represent the data stream accurately.
The main three components of a Remoting Framework are :
- Remotable Object
- Remote Listener Application - (listening requests for Remote Object)
- Remote Client Application - (makes requests for Remote Object)
By explore the capabilities of .NET Remoting, developers can establish reliable and efficient communication channels between distributed applications, regardless of their physical location or network configuration. The framework's flexibility enables seamless integration and collaboration between diverse systems, promoting interoperability and facilitating the exchange of data and functionality.
Channels
Whether applications are deployed on the same machine, within a local network, or across separate networks, the .NET Remoting framework empowers developers to design and implement distributed systems that transcend physical boundaries. By utilizing the TCP and HTTP channels and using Binary or SOAP formatters, developers can establish secure and efficient communication pathways, ensuring the seamless flow of data and enabling applications to collaborate seamlessly.
System.MarshalByRefObject
The Remote Object is implemented in a class that derives from System.MarshalByRefObject.
The above figure provides an overview of the fundamental workflow employed in .NET Remoting. When a client initiates a call to a remote method, the client does not directly invoke the methods on the remote object itself. Instead, it receives a proxy to the remote object, which serves as an intermediary for invoking the desired method.
Formatters
Upon receiving the method call from the client, the proxy encodes the message using an appropriate formatter, such as the Binary Formatter or SOAP Formatter, as determined by the configuration file. Subsequently, the encoded message is transmitted to the server through the selected channel, which can be either the TcpChannel or HttpChannel, depending on the chosen communication protocol.
On the server side, the channel receives the request from the proxy and forwards it to the Remoting system residing on the server. The Remoting system locates the corresponding remote object and proceeds to invoke the relevant methods on that object. Once the execution of the remote method is complete, any results or responses generated by the method are sent back to the client through the same process.
Remotable type
Before accessing an object instance of a Remotable type, it is necessary to create and initialize the object through a process known as Activation. Activation in .NET Remoting is classified into two models: Client-activated Objects and Server-activated Objects. Each model offers distinct characteristics and behaviors for managing the lifecycle and accessibility of remote objects.
Understanding the activation models is crucial for effectively utilizing .NET Remoting and ensuring seamless communication and interaction between client and server components.
Conclusion
The workflow of .NET Remoting involves the client obtaining a proxy to the remote object, invoking methods through the proxy, encoding and transmitting messages using appropriate formatters and channels, and finally processing the method calls on the server side. The activation process, categorized into Client-activated and Server-activated Objects, governs the creation and initialization of remote object instances. Familiarity with these concepts is essential for implementing robust and efficient distributed systems using .NET Remoting.