Multiple Winsocks

[brenaaro]

I have a question regarding multiple winsock connections between 1 server and several clients. Here is my setup:

I have 5 winsock controls on my form:

sckListen
sckRequest1
sckRequest2
sckAccept1
sckAccept2

In Form_Load I do

With sckListen
.Bind .LocalIP, 7777
.Listen
End With

So now I have sckListen listening on port 7777.

I then have 2 command buttons that I click in this order:

Private Sub Command2_Click()
    sckRequest1.Connect sckListen.LocalIP, 7777
End Sub
' and then
Private Sub Command3_Click()
    sckRequest2.Connect sckListen.LocalIP, 7777
End Sub

In my sckListen_ConnectionRequest I have this:

Private Sub sckListen_ConnectionRequest(ByVal requestID As Long)
        
    If sckAccept1.State = sckClosed Then
        sckAccept1.Accept requestID
    Else
        sckAccept2.Accept requestID
    End If
    
End Sub

If I then check the states and ports of my winsock controls I see this:

Listen: Listening LocalPort:7777
Request1: Connected LocalPort:2783
Accept1: Connected RemotePort:2783
Request2: Connected LocalPort:2784
Accept2: Connected RemotePort:2784

Does this make sense? I want to be able to have one winsock
listening for any connection requests from clients, and it would
then create new winsock instances to accept those requests.
(I am familiar with loading and unloading new controls)

Is the above log correct? Are my Request and Accept winsocks now connected on those ports? So any data passed between them should not be lost or misplaced(even though my initial .Connect method was called with port 7777)?

[brenaaro]

I just changed my debug log to show this..

Listen: Listening LocalPort:7777
Request1: Connected LocalPort:2845 RemotePort:7777
Accept1: Connected LocalPort:7777 RemotePort:2845
Request2: Connected LocalPort:2846 RemotePort:7777
Accept2: Connected LocalPort:7777 RemotePort:2846

Does this make sense?...

[kleinma]

you can accomplish this using a control array of winsock controls.. this is the most efficient way to do it because it allows your server app to load a new winsock control with each seperate incoming connection request from the client...

[brenaaro]

Yes, I had planned on using an array of winsocks. I have no concerns on that matter. What I was wondering about was the actual connections between these winsocks..the fact that it seems to be automatically assigning a new port for these incoming connection requests.

Basically I need to know if what appears to be happening actually is. If so then that will make my life easier. Will the "Accept" winsocks automatically connect on the next available port, and will there be no conflicts between all open connections, despite the fact that the initial port (7777) seems to be being used by them all..

[leinad31]

Each instance of the winsock control has its own index even if they share the same port number. You'll probably have problems with 'address in use' errors since each remote IP can only be accessed with 1 winsock whatever its state if its remoteIP property already has a value. You can avoid that by unloading the instance after use or designating each instance to 1 remote IP address (no other instance can access same address). Side note, you wont be able to have three simultaneous winsocks to same remotehostIP.

[TheSarlacc]

i think u want this code: (stole it from MSDN)..

Const MAX_CONNECTIONS =100

Private Sub Form_Load()
   sckServer(0).LocalPort = 7777
   sckServer(0).Listen
   'load all winsock controls
   For indx = 1 to MAX_CONNECTIONS
        Load sckServer(indx)
   Next indx
End Sub

Private Sub sckServer_ConnectionRequest _
(Index As Integer, ByVal requestID As Long)
   If Index = 0 Then
      'find available winsock control
      For indx = 1 to MAX_CONNECTIONS
            If sckServer(indx).State <> sckConnected Then
                'accept connection
                sckServer(indx).Close
                sckServer(indx).Accept requestID
                Exit For
            End If
      Next indx
   End If
End Sub

[randem]

brenaaro,

Search the forum for Winsock.

This question has been asked and answered several times.

[brenaaro]

Originally posted by TheSarlacc
i think u want this code: (stole it from MSDN)..

Const MAX_CONNECTIONS =100

Private Sub Form_Load()
   sckServer(0).LocalPort = 7777
   sckServer(0).Listen
   'load all winsock controls
   For indx = 1 to MAX_CONNECTIONS
        Load sckServer(indx)
   Next indx
End Sub

Private Sub sckServer_ConnectionRequest _
(Index As Integer, ByVal requestID As Long)
   If Index = 0 Then
      'find available winsock control
      For indx = 1 to MAX_CONNECTIONS
            If sckServer(indx).State <> sckConnected Then
                'accept connection
                sckServer(indx).Close
                sckServer(indx).Accept requestID
                Exit For
            End If
      Next indx
   End If
End Sub

Ok I do something like this except I dont load the other winsocks untill they are needed. This is what I wanted to know, as long as the same concept is in MSDN then I'm satisfied.