How D is DCOM?

[Dave Sell]

Just wondering, can Windows DCOM be spread outside of a LAN? ie... can a DCOM client connect to a remote DCOM server over the ordinary tcp/ip internet?

[ntg]

Originally posted by Dave Sell
Just wondering, can Windows DCOM be spread outside of a LAN? ie... can a DCOM client connect to a remote DCOM server over the ordinary tcp/ip internet?
Hi,

Bad thing about DCOM is that it doesn't use a predefined port for business object communication. So, although it can be used on the internet, you'll have a hell of a time convincing the admin to open a large range of ports to the outside world.

Cheers,
NTG

[Dave Sell]

Originally posted by ntg
Hi,

Bad thing about DCOM is that it doesn't use a predefined port for business object communication. So, although it can be used on the internet, you'll have a hell of a time convincing the admin to open a large range of ports to the outside world.

Cheers,
NTG

What is the range of ports?

[ntg]

Originally posted by Dave Sell
What is the range of ports?
Check your MSDN, there should be instructions on how to configure the port range you want.

Cheers,
NTG

[Dave Sell]

Assuming my firewall port-forwarding setup is not a problem, how could you set up a DCOM client to connect to a remote DCOM server across the internet, given that the Client and the Server are in completely different security spaces (Domains)?

When you are choosing a Host to run the ActiveX EXE, you are forced to choose objects from a list that are automagically found by the DCOMCFG Applet. Thus, you are unable to specify a host name outside of your security space.

[shunt]

From what I understand, you require a pc in domain A to be "trusted" in domain B. I dont know how that works, but thats what I was told by the system Administrator. Then again, how much he really knows is also questionable. Dont know how much that will help, but hope it puts you on the right path!

[Dave Sell]

Ya, that makes alot of sense. I was just curious if you could by-pass the security mechanism that DCOM seems to rely on.

TO ask the question in other words, can a DCOM server be made available to the public for consumption?

I am not planning on doing this, I am curious about the limitations of DCOM.