Concept:

The server side polls an industrial WinCE controller via ModbusTCP on a timer. The data is collected and eventually averaged and sent to a SQL database. This portion of the program is almost complete. This program needs to reside on one of our file servers.

Here is the issue:

I need a client side that is accessible from any computer in the plant. This leads me down the Web Based road as it seems like the best approach.

I am using a series of gauges that I purchased from Dundas Software that I need to dynamically update. I am not a strong web programmer at all but I think this is the way to go.

Here is where I am missing the boat a bit. Is there a way to expose the variables in the server side to a client side without writing them to a file? I don't want to have to do a file swap if I can avoid it. I am also concerned about the server side trying to write to a file while the client side is reading it. I have used methods in the past to write to a .ini file using VB6 but I have not looked into this method in .net so I don't know if that is a better option either.

Also, I assume that I need to use AJAX to dynamically update the individual gauges. The way I understand it is that AJAX prevents the entire page from reloading at each call. It only reloads the objects that you want. Luckily the guys at Dundas have anticiapated this and I have both the VB.net and ASP.net versions of the gauges.

Like I said. The server side is not a real issue for me. Not knowing a whole lot about sockets yet (I am learning) is it possible that the client notifies the server when it is online and the server then sends the data to each online client after its MODBUS Poll?

Wow I think I might have answered my own question to some degree.

Someone give me a nod if I am on the right track please. I will probably be back with a few more questions before this is over.

Thanks in advance,

Wade